Yokota Air Base’s air traffic control (ATC) tower overlooks entire flight line at Yokota Air Base, Japan. Photo: Staff Sgt. Jonathan Steffen, U.S. Air Force

[Via Satellite 10-22-2014] The U.S. Air Force has awarded a $6.4 million Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract to MacDonald Dettwiler and Associates (MDA) to improve the flight path safety system currently in use by the military. MDA developed the system in 2004 to design flight paths for aircraft with ground-based navigation equipment. The update will enable aircraft to use both satellite and ground-based navigation.

Companies such as Raytheon, Aireon and Globalstar are developing space-based Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) systems that improve the safety and efficiency of aircraft navigation. MDA has received approximately $20.2 million in contracts under this IDIQ.