The U.S. Air Force Electronics Systems Center at Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass., awarded a $6 million contract to Telephonics Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Griffon Corp. in Farmingdale, N.Y., to supply the AN/UPX-40 Mark XIIA/Mode S Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) common module interrogator for Air Force Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) surveillance aircraft.

This contract will qualify and AIMS certify Telephonics equipment for Mode 5 and Mode S, the new interrogator modes of operation, which enhance performance, improve security and heighten situational awareness for the war fighter to minimize fratricide.

For rotary wing, fixed wing, and surface platforms, the AN/UPX-40 is a common module interrogator with an open-systems architecture and is designed to be compatible with Telephonics IFF equipments supplied for the U.S. Navy’s MH-60R helicopter, the Canadian CH-148 maritime helicopter, and Canadian CP-140 Aurora upgrade program, and other international IFF systems.

Telephonics executives will manage the program from the company facilities in Farmingdale, N.Y. They anticipate delivery of hardware no later than September 2007. For more information, visit www.telephonics.com.