FAA Awards ASI $875 Million AI Contract for FMDS and SMART Programs to Modernize Air Traffic Management
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has selected Air Space Intelligence (ASI) to deploy the Flow Management Data & Services (FMDS) and Strategic Management of Airspace, Routing, and Trajectories (SMART) programs. The 12-year, $875 million software and AI contract aims to integrate operational data, predictive modeling, and decision-support tools into a unified platform, with SMART's initial operational deployment targeted for fall 2026.
Highlights
- The FAA awarded Air Space Intelligence (ASI) an $875 million, 12-year contract to deploy the FMDS and SMART air traffic management programs.
- SMART (Strategic Management of Airspace, Routing, and Trajectories) is targeting initial operational deployment in fall 2026.
- The contract will consolidate operational data, predictive modeling, and decision-support applications into a single unified AI platform.
- ASI already provides real-time operational systems to major U.S. airlines and the U.S. Air Force.
- The current NAS faces limitations including poor predictive capability, fragmented data access, and underutilized airspace that the new systems aim to address.
FAA Selects ASI for FMDS and SMART Programs
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced the selection of Air Space Intelligence (ASI) to deploy two major initiatives: the Flow Management Data & Services (FMDS) and the Strategic Management of Airspace, Routing, and Trajectories (SMART) programs.
About ASI and the Contract
ASI currently provides real-time operational systems to major U.S. airlines and the U.S. Air Force. The newly awarded FMDS and SMART software and AI contract is valued at $875 million and spans a period of up to 12 years.
Program Goals: Building a Next-Generation Air Traffic Control System
Under the contract, ASI will support the FAA's effort to modernize the air traffic control system to serve both current and future airspace users. The centerpiece of the initiative is the consolidation of operational data, predictive modeling, and decision-support applications into a single, unified software and AI platform.
Pain Points of the Current System
The FAA has identified several key limitations in the existing National Airspace System (NAS):
- Limited predictive capability: Difficulty forecasting how the volume and scheduling of planned flights will affect the overall system.
- Weak response to unplanned events: Reduced capacity to handle weather changes, runway closures, and other unexpected capacity constraints.
- Underutilized airspace: Inability to effectively identify and leverage available airspace.
- Fragmented information: Controllers must toggle between multiple screens and spreadsheets to access critical data, reducing operational efficiency.
What FMDS and SMART Will Change
The FAA states that the introduction of these two new technologies will deliver significant improvements:
"With these two new technologies, the FAA will be able to consolidate all critical data onto a single platform and proactively identify delays and available airspace days, weeks, or even months in advance to effectively mitigate issues. These systems will also enable controllers to integrate weather patterns and flight paths into one central visualization interface."
Deployment Timeline
The FAA has set a target of fall 2026 for SMART's initial operational deployment, signaling a major step toward a smarter and more efficient era of U.S. air traffic management.
Sources: Federal Aviation Administration, Air Space Intelligence Image credit: Shutterstock
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