Aeroflex Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Aeroflex Holding Corp., announced that the Aeroflex APM-424(V)5 IFF (Identification Friend or Foe) portable test set has received full certification from the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) AIMS International Program Office. The tester is in full compliance with DoD AIMS 03-1000A performance standards for Mark XIIA performance and ICAO Annex 10 international standards for Mode S ELS/EHS performance for ramp testing of IFF transponders and interrogators.

“The full AIMS certification is a very important milestone for us. It follows closely the ‘approval for test’ that was granted to Aeroflex last quarter by AIMS,” said Guy Hill, Director, Avionics Business Unit, Aeroflex Test Solutions. “This certification authorizes IFF end users and customers to utilize the APM-424(V)5 in their platform integration, validation and certification efforts,” he said.

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The APM-424(V)5 is the first available, portable MK XIIA Mode 5 Level 2/Mode S ELS/EHS test set that has received full certification from the DoD AIMS Program Office. The new APM-424(V)5 replaces the APM-424(V)3, TS-4530, and TS-4530-1. 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).

IFF Mode 5 is a cryptographic identification system that enables military and international interrogation systems to distinguish friendly aircraft, vehicles, or forces, and to determine their bearing and range from the interrogator. As Mode 5 is deployed, newly installed transponders and interrogators require initial commissioning tests followed by routine pre-mission tests.

The Aeroflex APM-424(V)5 is a lightweight flight line test set for non-commercial, pre-mission testing of IFF transponders and interrogators. It tests the latest development in secure IFF Mode 5. Levels 1 and 2 are crypto-secure with enhanced encryption, spread spectrum modulation, and time of day authentication.

The APM-424(V)5’s transponder test mode verifies Mode 5 code load and mission/platform parameters. The interrogator test mode verifies Mode 5 code load and correct decoding of mission/platform parameters. The test set also supports Mode S for military air transport aircraft EHS/ELS. With field interchangable adapter housings, the APM-424(V)5 will support both the KIV-77 and KIV-78 crypto appliqués, allowing the test set to be configured to the users’ needs. This feature provides flexibility that is not afforded by comparable products. This certification authorizes use for the KIV-77 adapter; the KIV-78 adapter is currently in development with AIMS certification forthcoming.