Elon Musk offers free Starlink upgrade to FAA system, warns system will fail within months

Elon Musk said Thursday that it is crucial for Starlink, a division of his SpaceX satellite and rocket company, to take over the FAA's air traffic control communication system. He explained that the old system is failing and described the situation as "extremely dire."

The FAA confirmed reports earlier this week that it is testing three Starlink terminals.

Musk said that regarding the old communications system in place at the FAA, that it “is single digit months to catastrophic failure, putting air traveler safety at serious risk. The Starlink terminals are being sent at NO COST to the taxpayer on an emergency basis to restore air traffic control connectivity," Musk wrote on X.

"The situation is extremely dire," he added.

Musk had attributed the old system for Verizon, which has been offered a contract to upgrade the system, but later added, “Correction: the ancient system that is rapidly declining in capability was made L3Harris. The new system that is not yet operational is from Verizon.”

Verizon has been awarded a substantial $2.4 billion contract to upgrade the FAA's communications infrastructure, which is referred to as the FAA Enterprise Network Services (FENS) program. When questioned about Musk's statement, the FAA told CNN, "Regarding the FENS program, no decisions have been made.”

The United States said upgrades to the FAA's computer and communications systems are desperately needed, according to a report released in December under the prior administration's Government Accountability Office. The report was titled "Urgent FAA actions are needed to modernize aging systems."

Verizon said it does not run the current system being used by the FAA.

"Our company is working on building the next generation system for the FAA which will support the agency's mission for safe and secure air travel," said Verizon spokesman Rich Young. "We are at the beginning of a multi-year contract to replace antiquated, legacy systems. Our teams have been working with the FAA's technology teams and our solution stands ready to be deployed. We continue to partner with the FAA on achieving its modernization objectives."

The FAA has been considering terminating the hefty Verizon contract in place of Starlink, the Washington Post reported. The agency is currently testing three Starlink terminals at facilities in Atlantic City and Alaska. Elon Musk said the shipment of terminals was at no cost to taxpayers and was provided to the FAA "on an emergency basis to restore air traffic control connectivity."