Raytheon has been awarded a contract by the U.S. Air Force to integrate Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast (ADS-B) capability into its suite of APX-119 Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) transponders to support the Federal Aviation Administration’s NextGen plan for transformation of the National Airspace System.
ADS-B is a space-based navigation system for air traffic management with many civil and military benefits, including cockpit situational awareness, reduced aircraft separation and increased capacity. There are also possible military operational benefits.
The U.S. Air Force must comply with FAA regulations, having ADS-B capability in the APX-119 transponders by 2020. The current schedule is to have them completed well before that time.