A GEC-Marconi led consortium will address the UK Ministry of Defence requirement to upgrade the Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) capability on most current platforms.
The GEC-International Consortium is made up of GEC-Marconi Avionics (UK), GEC-Marconi Hazeltine (USA) and Thomson-CSF Communications (France).
The UK has a long-standing requirement to replace the current Mk XA systems on 52 land and sea platform types with a common Nato Mk XII Mode 4 equipment.
Any supplier must also demonstrate a proven capability to update the equipment to an enhanced future "Mode 5" wave form currently being defined by Nato.
In addition, the airborne transponder equipment is to provide a new Air Traffic Control mode, Mode S, to permit military aircraft operation in civilian airspace.
Source: Flight Daily News