BAE Systems has been awarded a $15 million contract from the U.S. Navy to deliver its next-generation digital interrogator for maritime vessels.
The AN/UPX-50(C) Digital Interrogator will provide advanced capabilities, allowing for time-critical insights that reduce friendly fire incidents and support mission success in hostile environments.
The modernized design of the interrogator features a common modular design and open system architecture, enabling the rapid integration of new technology within the existing footprint through software updates instead of hardware configuration. This will allow for critical system updates to be delivered to the warfighter faster.
The interrogator will serve the U.S. Navy fleet, delivering high-performance, multi-function Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) solutions for air defense, weapon systems, air traffic control, and range instrumentation. It will include Mark XIIB IFF processing, including Mode 5 and Mode S, providing secure and encrypted data exchange. Additionally, it will feature a third receive channel for pausing and re-transmitting data.
Donna Linke-Klein, director of Tactical Systems at BAE Systems, stated, “The flexibility of our design provides high performance without changes to existing fleet infrastructure – getting critical system updates to the warfighter faster. This investment will accommodate IFF technology growth for several decades to best equip the U.S. Navy in the evolving battlespace.”
