BAE Systems IFF transponder certified for F-16 fleet

BAE Systems has secured certification for a new Identification Friend or Foe capability intended for the Lockheed Martin F-16 fighter, the company said.

The AN/APX-127(V)1 Combined Interrogator Transponder is meant to give F-16 pilots a clearer way to tell allied aircraft apart from threats in contested airspace. It is built as a direct replacement for older CIT units on US and international aircraft, and it meets newer cryptographic and cybersecurity requirements.

The AIMS Program Office, part of the US Department of War, issued the certification. That office is responsible for managing and standardising IFF equipment across the US military and its allies.

Seth Guanu of BAE Systems said the company is putting money into the next generation of its IFF technology to support current and future customer missions. He said the multi-domain systems are built for high performance, can be upgraded easily, and meet size, weight and power targets for existing and emerging platforms. The solution, he said, provides added security and real-time information for pilots across a range of threat environments.

Work on the AN/APX-127(V)1 is carried out in Greenlawn, New York, and Austin, Texas. BAE expects to begin delivering the first production run of 90 units this year.