Frequentis cooperates with US DoD on installation of first digital tower
June 5, 2025
The US Department of Defence in collaboration with Frequentis Defense Inc (FID) has confirmed its first digital air traffic control tower is now live and operational.
Located at Garrison Katterbach in Germany, the digital air traffic control tower will replace traditional fixed air traffic control (ATC) infrastructure. It will deliver advanced digital tower capability with 4K visual and thermal cameras, radar integration and enhanced situational awareness tools.
“Our partnership with the US Army and the success of the digital tower installation at Katterbach are essential to demonstrating the operational feasibility of the digital tower for complex US Army operations,” said Brian Bruckbauer, president, FDI.
According to Frequentis, its digital tower technology will also help to significantly reduce costs by eliminating the need for an expensive physical tower including maintenance. It also offers the DoD the capability to “consolidate” air traffic management in situations where there are smaller airbases with less air traffic and minimally staffed personnel.
As a digital solution with the control room in a centralised location, the system will greatly enhance situational awareness. The integration of data from sensors, cameras and radar create a 360-degree panoramic out-the-window view with visual and thermal imaging in all weather conditions. Meanwhile, advanced pan-tilt cameras will enable air traffic controllers to improve their ability to monitor the surrounding airspace and airfield.
Digital tower trials
The contract builds on the US DoD’s trials of digital ATC towers at AirForce and Naval bases in Florida, Georgia and Texas, which were completed in early 2024.
Speaking at the time, Ed Wright, executive director, headquarters US Air Force Flight Standards Agency said: “We think the future is bright for the remote digital tower. We continue to do assessments of this technology and continue to be impressed with it.
“We do believe it has benefits, particularly where we don’t have to put the controllers in the tower, keeping them out of harm’s way.”
What happens now?
With Frequentis’ digital tower solution now installed at Garrisson Katterbach, it will be evaluated by the US Army with the potential for similar solutions to be rolled out at other locations.
“Our partnership with the US Army and the success of the digital tower installation at Katterbach are essential to demonstrating the operational feasibility of the digital tower for complex US Army operations,” said Bruckbauer. “We are incredibly proud of our team for completing this first-of -its-kind programme, and we’re excited about the upcoming DoD contracts we’ll be signing this year.”
