U.S. Air Force Contracts ATCO and ASRC Federal to Operate and Maintain the Alaska Radar System

Executive Summary

• ATCO Frontec’s joint venture ARCTEC Alaska, together with ASRC Federal, secured a 10‑year U.S. Air Force contract valued at approximately US$596 million to operate and maintain the Alaska Radar System (ARS).
• The agreement covers 15 long‑range radar sites, two radio sites, and facilities at Joint Base Elmendorf‑Richardson, with service commencement slated for September 2026.
• This award builds on a partnership dating back to 1994 and reinforces ATCO’s role in critical defence infrastructure across North America.

Key Details

• Contract Value: ~US$596 million over ten years.
• Scope of Services: Operation, maintenance, site services, facility upkeep, logistics, and comprehensive operational support for the ARS.
• Sites Covered: 15 long‑range radar installations, 2 radio sites, plus headquarters facilities at Joint Base Elmendorf‑Richardson, Alaska.
• Start Date: September 2026; contract term of ten years.
• Joint Venture Partners: ATCO Frontec (ATCO Ltd.) and ASRC Federal (Alaska Native‑owned).
• Historical Context: ARCTEC has held continuous USAF contracts for the ARS since 1994; this is a follow‑on award.
• Related Experience:
• ATCO Frontec also primes WEXMAC 2.1 for the U.S. Navy’s TITUS initiative.
• Operates the North Warning System (Canada’s Arctic radar network) via its Nasittuq partnership.
• Provided workforce lodging for 1,300 construction workers at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake (2020‑25).
• Managed a 1,500‑person lodge supporting wildfire cleanup in Paradise, California (2018).
• Executive Comments:
• Jim Landon, President – ATCO Frontec highlighted its unique capability to support remote, challenging environments and maintain continuous sky surveillance.
• Jennifer Felix, President & CEO of ASRC Federal – emphasized the contract’s importance for sovereign air‑space security and demonstrated delivery consistency in complex missions.

Notable Quotes

• “As a global support and facilities management company, we are uniquely positioned to support the U.S. Air Force in Alaska… enabling them to maintain continuous surveillance of our skies and safe navigation for civil flights across North America.” – Jim Landon, President, ATCO Frontec
• “The Alaska Radar System is critical to maintaining our sovereign air space and we are proud to be entrusted with supporting the safety and security of our nation.” – Jennifer Felix, President & CEO, ASRC Federal