FAAXX164: Standard Terminal Automation Replacement System (STARS)
Investment ID: 021-129509293
Overview
Program Title
FAAXX164: Standard Terminal Automation Replacement System (STARS)
Description
STARS is a real-time digital processing and display system that replaced legacy air traffic control automation equipment at 147 FAA TRACON facilities and 432 FAA ATCT facilities. STARS is used by Air Traffic Controllers to ensure the safe separation of both military and civilian aircraft within the nation's airspace.
Type of Program
Major IT Investments
Multi-Agency Category
Not Applicable
Investment Detail
The Terminal Automation Modernization and Replacement (TAMR) Program Office (PO) manages multiple Standard Terminal Automation Replacement Systems (STARS) Facilities and Equipment (F&E) sustainment programs. Current tech refresh programs consist of the STARS Sustainment 2 (SS2), SS3, and SS4 programs. SS2 and SS3 focused on ATCT and Operating System (OS) updates. SS2 included the engineering and qualification of critical STARS components and provided tech refreshes at five STARS LITE sites that were not included in the original STARS deployment programs; it also included three trade studies. SS3 is deploying the SS2 components that replace critical STARS infrastructure reaching End-of-Life (EOL) at 147 Terminal Radar Approach Control Facilities (TRACONs) and 432 ATCTs and is replacing the Solaris OS with Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) OS. SS3 achieved FID in June 2021. SS4, which concentrates on the TRACON front room tech refresh needs at all 147 TRACONs, provides engineering, development, and deployment activities that will replace key elements reaching EOL. SS4 achieved IARD in September 2021 and is scheduled for FID in September 2023. A cost analysis for STARS Sustainment 2 was conducted and it was determined that the full cost was $102M, the total cost of SS3 is estimated at $241.3M, and the total cost of SS4 is estimated at $577.08M.