BAE Systems’ IFF transponder certified for F-22 fighter aircraft

BAE Systems has received certification from the Department of Defense AIMS programme office for its Identification Friend-or-Foe (IFF) transponder for the F-22 Raptor fighter jet.

The company said that IFF transponder waveform integration forms part of the contract with US Navy to upgrade the Multifunctional Information Distribution System Joint Tactical Radio System (MIDS JTRS) terminal for the US Air Force.

The transponder is integrated with a multi-channel subsystem, which complies with the new Mode 5 cryptographic standard and can be programmed with software.

Additionally, it complies with the avionics equipment of the aircraft that uses tactical air navigation system waveforms and Link 16.

BAE Systems Tactical Systems director Donna Linke-Klein said: “This is BAE Systems’ first IFF system on a fifth-generation fighter jet.

“This certification is an important milestone for our MIDS JTRS offering and an incredible achievement for our employees and customers.”

Certification of the Mode 5 Level 2 capability is said to be an important step towards the platform-level AIMS and Federal Aviation Administration certification.

The MIDS JTRS terminal with IFF transponder is currently being produced and is in the ground and flight testing phase on board the F-22 aircraft.

The operational release to the fleet is expected to commence next year.

In November last year, the US Air Force planned to start testing a secure data-link that will allow its enable its F-35 and F-22 fighters to communicate in December.

In January, the US Air Force installed a metallic 3D printed part on an operational F-22 Raptor fighter aircraft.