U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy and Federal Aviation Administrator Bryan Bedford today unveiled Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)’s brand-new Surface Movement Radar (SMR). Replacing the airport’s 30-year-old radar is the latest step taken by the Trump Administration to modernize operations and improve safety at one of America’s busiest airports.
The Surface Movement Radar Model 4 (SMR-4) will allow air traffic controllers to track aircraft and vehicles on runways and taxiways in all weather and visibility conditions. EWR’s SMR-4 is the fifth to be installed so far nationwide.
“Since the start of this administration, we have been working towards building a modern system that will serve America’s skies for generations. From replacing Newark’s ancient copper wire to investing $30 million into new infrastructure and bringing new radar online, we are delivering real safety and efficiency enhancements at one of our nation’s busiest airports. We’re just getting started in our efforts to usher in the Golden Age of Travel for American passengers,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy.
“Newark sees well-over a thousand flights per day, and the new Surface Movement Radar will help controllers keep those flights safe at this major U.S. hub,” said FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford. “This is just the latest step in the FAA’s work to modernize our skies for the Golden Age of Travel.”
Over the next three years, EWR will receive $30 million from President Trump’s Working Families Tax Cuts to deliver critical upgrades. In addition to the installation of the SMR-4 radar, EWR has replaced 90% of its copper wiring with high-speed fiber to enhance communication, and is currently transitioning from paper flight strips to new electronic flight strips.
By the end of summer 2027, EWR will also install:
- New electronic information displays for controllers to improve situational awareness.
- New voice switches to help controllers communicate with pilots and other air traffic facilities more efficiently.
- New long-range radar to give controllers a more modern and reliable way to survey aircraft position.
In summer 2025, EWR was one of the worst airports in America for delays. Thanks to Secretary Duffy, upgrades have been deployed at the Speed of Trump, including:
- Overseeing a software patch to fix glitches and prevent outages
- Expediting the deployment of new fiber to replace copper wiring
- Completing runway construction ahead of schedule
- Rebalancing flight volume to match controller staffing
- As a result, EWR is a leading northeast airport for on-time flights.
Additional Information:
Under Secretary Duffy’s leadership, the FAA is moving at the speed of Trump to make upgrades to our air traffic control system nationwide. In just one year we have:
- Replaced 60% of all copper wires
- Converted 363 radio sites nationwide
- Installed 96 new Surface Awareness Initiative systems
- Transitioned 19 towers to electronic flight strips
- Installed 151 IP voice switches at control towers
