Raytheon, with a 60-year legacy in air traffic management, plans to compete for the U.S. Air Force's Deployable Radar Approach Control (D-RAPCON) program. D-RAPCON is a deployable air traffic control (ATC) surveillance system for joint, coalition and civil aircraft worldwide.

Raytheon's D-RAPCON solution consists of primary and secondary ATC radars integrated with a quick set-up deployable radar antenna, self-contained deployable ATC operations center, ATC voice (VHF/UHF) communications system and secure networked data communications.

"D-RAPCON will provide critical infrastructure during a disaster situation where existing ATC has been made inoperable," said Mike Prout, vice president of Security and Transportation Systems for Raytheon's Network Centric Systems business.

"Transportable air traffic management systems are necessary to provide support and resources even in remote areas."

Raytheon has developed a low-risk, highly interoperable solution through the incorporation of fielded and proven subsystems, including the Digital Airport Surveillance Radar (DASR)/ASR-11 and the Standard Terminal Automation Replacement System (STARS). Raytheon is in full-rate production on these systems.

The Air Force, which issued a Request for Proposal on May 18, is looking to purchase 19 deployable surveillance systems. Responses are due July 18.

Watch Raytheon's D-RAPCON solution in action.