Aeroflex MK12A IFF Mode 5 Test Set Now "Approved for Test" by DoD AIMS Program Office

Aeroflex (News - Alert) Incorporated announced that Aeroflex APM (News - Alert)-424(V)5 IFF (Identification Friend or Foe) portable test set has been “approved for test” by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) AIMS International Program Office.

A lightweight flight line test set for non-commercial, pre-mission testing of IFF transponders and interrogators, Aeroflex APM-424(V)5 tests the latest development in secure IFF Mode 5.

IFF Mode 5, a cryptographic identification system, enables military and international interrogation systems to distinguish friendly aircraft, vehicles, or forces, and to determine their bearing and range from the interrogator.

With “Approved for Test” status, IFF end users and customers can now utilize the APM-424(V)5 in their platform integration and validation efforts.

With this approval, APM-424(V)5 becomes the first available, portable MK12A Mode 5 Level 2 test set with KIV-77 support that has been designated as “Approved for Test” by the DoD AIMS Program Office, according to company officials. 

APM-424(V)5 will support both the KIV-77 and KIV-78 crypto appliqués. It allows the test set to be configured to the users’ needs. This feature provides flexibility that is not afforded by comparable products.

The new APM-424(V)5 replaces the AN/APM-424(V)3, TS-4530, and TS-4530-1.

The APM-424(V)5’s transponder test mode verifies Mode 5 code load and mission/platform parameters.

For customers with existing test sets, Mode 5 upgrade kits are available. Upgraded units can be used with current TOs/TMs (Technical Orders/Technical Manuals).

Recently Aeroflex announced the availability of a new PC-based application for sending and receiving Digital Mobile Radio (DMR) radio data, using the 3920 as the generator and receiver.

The new application allows engineers and technicians to capture data from DMR radios and repeaters and also transmit user-defined data over the air to dynamically analyze DMR radio messages and isolate transmission and receiver problems in DMR systems.