British arms, security, and aerospace company BAE Systems has secured a contract to provide identification friend-or-foe (IFF) spares for the US Navy’s E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft.
Under the contract, the company will provide beamforming networks (BFNs), an integral part of antenna control for the AN/APX-122A IFF Interrogator system, onboard the carrier-capable tactical aircraft.
The AN/APX-122A IFF Interrogator system provides positive identification of friendly aircraft, giving E-2D Advanced Hawkeye operators the situational awareness they need to safely complete their missions.
These missions include command and control, border security, search and rescue, and missile defense.
The AN/APX-122A IFF Interrogator system is produced exclusively for the E-2D, due to the extraordinary requirements for this aircraft.
“These sets will provide situational awareness and early warning for U.S. Navy sailors and warfighters,” said Donna Linke-Klein , director of Tactical Systems at BAE Systems.
“The Advanced Hawkeye is essential for battle management command and control, and our interrogator systems enable operators to identify friendly forces and make informed decisions in a variety of threat environments.”
BAE Systems’ IFF aircraft identification systems provide time-critical insights that reduce friendly fire incidents, support mission success, and save lives – especially in hostile environments.
So far, the company has delivered more than 14,000 transponders, 1,500 interrogators, and 6,000 combined interrogator transponder systems for use across a multitude of platforms.
In January this year, BAE Systems received a £230 million (about $315 million) contract from the Royal Navy to upgrade Spearfish and Sting Ray torpedoes.