Trump’s Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy Unveils Brand-New Radar as Latest Improvement to Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)

NEWARK, N.J. – U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy and Federal Aviation Administrator Bryan Bedford unveiled Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)’s brand-new Surface Movement Radar (SMR) on Tuesday, August 11, 2026.

The new radar replaces the airport’s 30-year-old system and represents the latest step by the Trump Administration to modernize operations and improve safety at one of America’s busiest airports.

New Surface Movement Radar

The Surface Movement Radar Model 4 (SMR-4) enables 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 system of its kind installed nationwide.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy said the administration is working to build a modern system capable of serving America’s skies for generations. He highlighted the replacement of Newark’s copper wire, $30 million in new infrastructure investments and the deployment of the new radar as safety and efficiency improvements at the airport.

FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said Newark handles well over a thousand flights per day and that the new Surface Movement Radar will help controllers keep those flights safe at the major U.S. hub.

Additional EWR Upgrades

Over the next three years, Newark Liberty International Airport will receive $30 million from President Trump’s Working Families Tax Cuts for critical upgrades.

Alongside the SMR-4 installation, EWR has replaced 90% of its copper wiring with high-speed fiber to improve communications and is transitioning from paper flight strips to electronic flight strips.

By the end of summer 2027, the airport is also scheduled to install new electronic information displays for controllers, new voice switches to improve communications with pilots and other air traffic facilities, and new long-range radar to provide a more modern and reliable way to monitor aircraft positions.

Previous Improvements at Newark

In summer 2025, EWR was among the worst airports in the United States for delays. The FAA says upgrades implemented under Secretary Duffy included a software patch to address glitches and prevent outages, accelerated deployment of fiber to replace copper wiring, runway construction completed ahead of schedule, and rebalancing flight volume to match controller staffing.

The FAA said these measures have contributed to EWR becoming a leading Northeast airport for on-time flights.

Nationwide Air Traffic Control Modernization

The FAA also reported that under Secretary Duffy’s leadership, modernization efforts are continuing nationwide. In one year, the agency says it has replaced 60% of all copper wires, converted 363 radio sites, installed 96 new Surface Awareness Initiative systems, transitioned 19 towers to electronic flight strips and installed 151 IP voice switches at control towers.