BAE Systems’ AN/APX-127(V)1 Combined Interrogator Transponder (CIT) has received AIMS certification from the US Department of Defense for the US Air Force’s F-16, clearing the CIT for operational use as part of the aircraft’s Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) system.
An IFF system allows military aircraft to identify friendly platforms and distinguish them from unknown or potentially hostile aircraft through coded exchanges.
BAE has modernized the CIT’s electronics and computing architecture, strengthened its cryptographic and cybersecurity capabilities, and added receive channels for passive acquisition of Mode 5 Level 2 and ADS-B signals.
Mode 5 Level 2 signals provide secure military identification information, while ADS-B In broadcasts can provide information such as an aircraft’s identity, position, and flight data.
Drop-in Replacement for Existing CITs
Its open architecture allows software upgrades, reducing the need for hardware modifications. Using the same form factor, the CIT is a drop-in replacement for the AN/APX-113(V), AN/APX-125(V), and AN/APX-126(V) CITs currently operating on multiple US and international platforms.
The upgraded system is designed to address obsolescence, while its increased processing capacity supports future capability requirements.
Work on the AN/APX-127(V)1 is performed at BAE Systems’ facilities in Greenlawn, New York, and Austin, Texas. The company expects to begin deliveries from the initial 90-unit production lot this year.
“We are investing in the next generation of our IFF technology to support our customers’ missions for today and tomorrow,” Combat Identification Products program area director at BAE Systems Seth Guanu said.
“Our multi-domain systems are designed for high-performance; easily upgradeable; and meet size, weight, and power objectives for existing and emerging platforms. This solution provides added security and real-time information pilots need in a variety of threat environments.”
