This important certification is known as Air Traffic Control Radar Beacon System, Identification Friend or Foe, Mark XII/Mark XIIA, Systems (AIMS). The newly certified RST can be used on existing, new, and emerging platforms including unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), ships, helicopters, and fixed-wing aircraft. By providing the data infrastructure for flight tracking, planning, and dispatch, the system enables pilots to safely and efficiently navigate congested airspace and make informed decisions in time-critical situations.
“To achieve AIMS certification for our smaller, cost-effective IFF product means that our system meets the stringent performance standards established by the DoD,” said Sal Costa, product line director for Identification & Processing Solutions at BAE Systems. “Our AN/DPX-7 system will make air travel safer because it enhances the capabilities of air traffic control, communicating with other planes, satellites, and ground stations.”
No other currently fielded Mode 5 transponder offers a small package—half the weight and size of its predecessor —with Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast in/out capability that provides both air traffic control and situational awareness for pilots. Used for military platforms which require Mode 5 functionality, the system has been selected for both the MQ-4C Triton, a UAS that provides surveillance capabilities for the U.S. Navy. The RST can also be configured to replace legacy fielded military transponders.