BAE Systems to provide IFF transponders for U.S. Navy and military avionics in $28.3 million order
PATUXENT RIVER NAS, Md. – U.S. Navy avionics experts are asking the BAE Systems Electronic Systems segment in Greenlawn, N.Y., to provide hundreds of identification-friend-or-foe IFF transponders for military aircraft under terms of a $28.3 million order announced Friday.
Officials of the Naval Air Systems Command at Patuxent River Naval Air Station, Md., are awarding this contract modification to BAE Systems, which involves IFF transponders for jet fighter-bombers, helicopters, trainer aircraft, and transport aircraft. IFF transponders transmit coded messages that identify aircraft as friendly and determines their range and bearing from ground- or air-based interrogators.
The order calls for BAE Systems to provide as many as 528 AN/APX-117A(V), AN/APX-118A(V), and AN/APX-123A(V) IFF transponders for the U.S. Navy.
BAE Systems also will provide as many as 590 Mode 5 change kits; as many as 18 Mode 4/5 remote control units; as many as 42 IFF mounting trays; as many as 600 shop replaceable assemblies for the IFF transponders; as many as 40 Mode 4/5 chassis; and as many as 73 IFF transponder repairs for the Navy.
In addition, this order calls for BAE Systems to provide as many as 200 kits to convert RT-1912 aircraft transponders to RT-1912A transponders for the U.S. Army.
The AN/APX-117A(V), AN/APX-118A(V), and AN/APX-123A(V) are part of the BAE Systems common transponder (CXP) family that is the Navy's and Army's standard transponder for all retrofit and new aircraft applications.
The transponders are built on an open-system architecture and high-density field-programmable gate array (FPGA) technology that provides for system flexibility and future systems improvements through software-only upgrades.
The CXP family of IFF transponders is configured to replace all AN/APX-100, AN/APX-101, AN/APX-108, AN/APX-64, AN/APX-72 and AN/UPX-28 transponders. All CXP transponders weigh less than 12 pounds with embedded cryptography, and measure 5.375 by 5.375 by 8.375 inches. Their radio control units measure 5.25 by 5.75 by 3 inches.
On this contract BAE Systems will do the work in Greenlawn, N.Y.; and Austin, Texas, and should be finished by December 2018.For more information contact BAE Systems Electronic Systems online at www.baesystems.com.
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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.
