Continues Development of Mode 5 Level 2B Micro IFF Receiver

UAvionix and R Cubed Engineering Team has completed its successful participation in Joint DoD and NATO training event Bold Quest 2021, held at Camp Atterbury, Indiana. The company assisted in the joint operation by conducting over 13 hours of flight mission time in support of the Mode 5 IFF Mission, with their DoD AIMS Certified RT-2087/ZPX-B micro IFF receiver. Continued testing of Mode 5 Level 2B, a rough military analogue to civilian ADS-B services, has been in development as the DoD paves the way forward to next-gen services. 

The missions were a first for live military flight tests with an electronic cryptographic unit and operational crypto keys, as well as implementation of improved Mode 5 Level 2B in uAvionix's micro IFF and data feeds to support airborne assets, traffic radars, and air defense equipment under certification or evaluation. While exhibiting their product, the company was able to advertise their ZPX-R tactical receiver for ground-based, shipborne, or airborne message reception. The Mode 5 Level 2 ZPX-R transmits periodic, encrypted squitters that enable situational awareness in areas without Mode 5 interrogators present, increasing the scalability of the equipment. Their receiver increases not only fleet flexibility by providing coverage in service-challenged areas, but also by the ZPX-R's data provision in multiple formats for easy integration into displays, ACAS Xu, or other DAA processors. The body of data generated during the exercise will support the DoD's analysis in deciding the future development for Mode 5 Level 2B going forward. There are hopes that future revisions and improvements could be found for the range of systems used throughout Bold Quest, given the quantity and granularity of data generated. 

The ZPX-B was made under a joint US Army and Navy Small Business Innovative Research effort to provide a micro IFF capable of integration throughout the aircraft fleet, with a special eye towards unmanned systems in service. The testbed for Bold Quest 2021 was a classic 1957 Cessna 182 Skylane, demonstrating the ease of integration and reliability for military operations. Vintage Cessnas, after all, are not known for having a plethora of mil-spec connectors and buses, making its use in flight a fine proof of concept, as well as a novel practice partner for signal testing for those accustomed to working with faster, higher-spec military equipment. The next test will see the ZPX-B installed on a Navy RQ-21 Blackjack with the US Army's Future Tactical UAS program. 

FMI: www.uavionix.com