Boeing and Lockheed Martin have formed a strategic alliance to promote advancement of the future U.S. air transportation system, Boeing said on January 22.

Boeing and Lockheed Martin will work together to leverage their expertise in air traffic management and aircraft-centric solutions to implement bold changes and help the U.S. government overcome the challenges that lie ahead in transforming the current air traffic control system, said Boeing in a statement.

The collaboration combines Lockheed Martin's air traffic management experience in the domains of en route, oceanic, terminal, and airport surface operations with Boeing's strengths in aircraft systems, avionics, aviation operations, and airspace simulation and modeling, said the statement.

It said aviation forecasts predict a two- to three-fold increase in air traffic by 2025, adding the next-generation air transportation system is critical to the continued growth of aviation and the U.S. economy.