The AN/APX-127(V)1 combines interrogator and transponder functions in a single unit to help pilots distinguish allied forces from potential threats. Its design allows it to replace three earlier combined interrogator transponders used on U.S. and international aircraft without changing the unit’s form factor, according to BAE Systems.
The system is certified to the AIMS Mark XIIB standard and supports Mode S and Mode 5 secure data exchange. Its open architecture is designed to accommodate software upgrades, while additional receive channels support passive acquisition of Mode 5 Level 2 and Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast In data.
“We are investing in the next generation of our IFF technology to support our customers’ missions for today and tomorrow,” said Seth Guanu, BAE Systems’ Combat Identification Products program area director. “This solution provides added security and real-time information pilots need in a variety of threat environments.”
BAE Systems is carrying out work on the system at its facilities in Greenlawn, New York, and Austin, Texas. The company said the new unit is intended to address obsolescence and provide more processing capacity for future requirements.
