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 an $18.3 million order announced earlier this month.
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 300 Mode 5 capable AN/APX-117A, 118A, and 123A(V) common identification friend or foe digital transponder systems and shop-replaceable assemblies for Navy and U.S. Army aircraft.
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 new military aircraft and aircraft upgrades.
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. Each CXP transponder weighs less than 12 pounds with embedded cryptography, and measures 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 May 2023. For more information contact BAE Systems Electronic Systems online at www.baesystems.com, or Naval Air Systems Command at www.navair.navy.mil.
