Navy chooses IFF avionics from Telephonics for fleet of P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft
LAKEHURST, N.J. –LAKEHURST, N.J. U.S. Navy aircraft avionics experts needed an identification friend-or-foe (IFF) system for the P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol jet. They found their solution from Telephonics Corp. in Farmingdale, N.Y.
Officials of the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division in Lakehurst, N.Y., announced plans last Thursday to buy the AN/UPX-43(V)1 identification friend or foe interrogator (IFFI) shipset and IFFI Mounting Tray from Telephonics in support of the P-8A Poseidon aircraft.
The AN/UPX-43 is a Mark XIIA monopulse and AIMS-certified IFF interrogator for command and control. It enables air traffic controllers and air defenders to identify military and civilian aircraft, verify forces as friendly, and determine their bearing and range.
The upcoming sole-source contract to Telephonics includes technical data, initial spares, repair of repairables, and technical support. The value of this future contact has yet to be negotiated. Telephonics is the sole designer, developer, and manufacturer of the AN/UPX-43(V)1 shipset for use in the P-8A.
Navy officials are awarding the contract to Telephonics sole-source because the company is the only known source with the knowledge of the design, technical data, fabrication, performance, and operational characteristics of the AN/UPX-43(V)1 shipset compatible with the P-8A antenna, airframe infrastructure, and aircraft interfaces, Navy officials say.
Related: BAE Systems to develop MAD ASW drone to help Navy P-8A find submarines from high altitudes
The AN/UPX-43 also provides multi-channel automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B). It complies with U.S. and international specifications that define interrogator modes, performance, control, reporting and interface.
Telephonics engineers can upgrade the AN/UPX-43 relatively easily because the system uses common module hardware and software for the detection, interrogation, identification, tracking and data extraction of small targets in severe environments, company officials say.
More information on this upcoming sole-source contract is online at https://www.fbo.gov/spg/DON/NAVAIR/N68335/N68335-17-R-0181/listing.html.
For additional information contact Telephonics online at www.telephonics.com, or the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division Lakehurst at www.navair.navy.mil.
Learn more: search the Aerospace & Defense Buyer's Guide for companies, new products, press releases, and videos
John Keller | Editor
John Keller is editor-in-chief of Military & Aerospace Electronics magazine, which provides extensive coverage and analysis of enabling electronic and optoelectronic technologies in military, space, and commercial aviation applications. A member of the Military & Aerospace Electronics staff since the magazine's founding in 1989, Mr. Keller took over as chief editor in 1995.
