Maryland / Munich 26.08.2026

Rohde & Schwarz USA celebrates grand opening of new manufacturing center in Frederick, Maryland

$40 million domestic manufacturing investment supports FAA's nationwide air traffic modernization effort and creates more than 350 high-quality jobs

Rohde & Schwarz USA, a global leader in critical infrastructure solutions, today celebrated the grand opening of its new manufacturing center in Frederick, Maryland, marking a major milestone in the company's work with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to modernize voice communication systems across the U.S. National Airspace System. The event also commemorates the recent installation of the 140th CERTIUM Voice Communication System (VCS), completing Wave 1 of the nationwide deployment ahead of schedule.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held this morning at the new facility, attended by FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford and Rohde & Schwarz USA President and CEO Frank Dunn. The event marks both the official opening of the state-of-the-art manufacturing center and the expansion of Rohde & Schwarz USA's domestic production capacity to support the FAA's Brand New Air Traffic Control System (BNATCS) initiative.

The new manufacturing facility in Frederick represents a $40 million investment by Rohde & Schwarz USA. The company leased the facility in 2025 and, in less than a year, has fully staffed the site with approximately 100 employees and scaled production to meet the pace of the FAA program. Designed to manufacture the next-generation CERTIUM Voice Communication System, the facility features advanced manufacturing processes and testing capabilities to produce critical voice communication systems for air traffic control operations. The expansion is creating more than 350 new high-quality jobs as Rohde & Schwarz USA expands its domestic workforce and manufacturing capacity.

Rohde & Schwarz USA President and CEO Frank Dunn emphasized the strategic importance of the Frederick facility during the ceremony: “We are honored to support the Brand New Air Traffic Control System and play a role in modernizing the critical infrastructure that enables safe and efficient operations across the U.S. National Airspace System. This investment reflects our long-term commitment to the United States and to the FAA. Ultimately, this is about the air traffic controllers who depend on these systems every day to safely separate aircraft and manage the flow of traffic.”

The new facility complements Rohde & Schwarz USA's existing operations in Coppell, Texas, providing the necessary capacity to fulfill the multi-billion-dollar contract from the FAA to manufacture CERTIUM Voice Communication Systems under the BNATCS initiative. The program aims to replace legacy analog communication infrastructure and modernize and secure voice communication across the National Airspace System.

Rohde & Schwarz USA is deploying its field-proven CERTIUM Voice Communication System, compliant with the latest ED-137 standard, across the United States. The first system under the FAA contract was deployed and went live in September 2025 at Allegheny County Airport near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, marking the first modern voice-over-IP VCS in the National Airspace System under the contract. With the installation of the 140th system in Rapid City, South Dakota, Rohde & Schwarz USA has completed Wave 1 ahead of schedule, with further deployments continuing at air traffic facilities nationwide.

The Frederick facility provides the domestic manufacturing capacity needed to support the ongoing nationwide rollout while strengthening U.S. production capabilities and creating high-quality American jobs. In less than a year, the facility has grown from a newly leased site to a fully operational manufacturing center supporting the FAA's air traffic modernization initiatives.

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Rohde & Schwarz

Rohde & Schwarz is striving for a safer and connected world with its Test & Measurement, Technology Systems and Networks & Cybersecurity Divisions. For over 90 years, the global technology group has pushed technical boundaries with developments in cutting-edge technologies. The company's leading-edge products and solutions empower industrial, regulatory and government customers to attain technological and digital sovereignty. The privately owned, Munich based company can act independently, long-term and sustainably. Rohde & Schwarz generated net revenue of EUR 3.16 billion in the 2024/2025 fiscal year (July to June). On June 30, 2025, Rohde & Schwarz had more than 15,000 employees worldwide.

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