In a move to improve safety and efficiency at one of the country's busiest travel hubs, a brand-new Surface Movement Radar (SMR) was unveiled at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) on Tuesday.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy and Federal Aviation Administrator Bryan Bedford were on hand to replace the airport's three-decade-old system with the Surface Movement Radar Model 4 (SMR-4), which will allow air traffic controllers to monitor aircraft and vehicles on runways and taxiways in all weather and visibility conditions.
Newark's SMR-4 is just the fifth to be installed nationwide so far.
The important upgrade is part of a broader $30 million investment in EWR from President Trump’s Working Families Tax Cuts. The airport has also replaced 90% of its copper wiring with high-speed fiber and is in the midst of transitioning from paper to electronic flight strips.
In addition to new long-range radar, EWR will install new voice switches and new electronic information displays by the end of summer 2027.
"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," said Duffy.
"We’re just getting started in our efforts to usher in the Golden Age of Travel for American passengers," he said.
"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," added Bedford. "This is just the latest step in the FAA’s work to modernize our skies for the Golden Age of Travel."
EWR continues to bounce back in a big way after a challenging 2025, during which officials imposed flight limits at the United Airlines hub. Newark actually led all major airports in the Northeast in on-time flights during the first half of 2026.
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