REQUEST FOR INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURES OF IDENTIFICATION FRIEND OR FOE (IFF) TRANSPONDERS THE COMMON AVIONICS IDENTIFICATION FRIEND OR FOE (IFF) TRANSPONDER R&M IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM SEEKS INFORMATION FROM POTENTIAL MANUFACTURES OF IFF TRANSPONDERS. Battelle Memorial Institute is disseminating this Request For Information (RFI) notice to solicit information from current IFF transponder manufactures and any parties interested in producing such devices. The information shall include descriptions of currently available and planned products that meet the requirement for the IFF transponder (DoD AIMS 97-1000). Product should also have the capability to operate as a Mode S transponder (RTCA DO-181A) with growth capability to Mode 5 (NATO STANAG 4193 Part 5). Contact information is also requested for each submittal. Battelle is conducting a study for the United States Air Force to assess and ultimately enhance the functionality, reliability, and maintainability of IFF transponders within Air Force applications. A potentially significant acquisition and logistics cost savings has been identified through the approach of developing a common IFF (CIFF) transponder to replace four IFF transponders currently in the Air Force Inventory (AN/APX-64, AN/APX-72, AN/APX-100, and AN/APX-101). The existing systems are installed in approximately 6000 aircraft representing 26 different Mission Design Series (MDS). By replacing each of these functionally similar systems with a common IFF system, significant life cycle cost savings could be realized by reducing the technical data maintenance, spare parts inventory, support equipment and training costs. The study will result in an initial assessment to determine the feasibility and engineering approach to achieving a common IFF transponder. WEB: -, -. E-MAIL: Tom Barnum, Battelle Memorial Institute, barnumt@battelle.org. Posted 11/20/98 (W-SN273637).

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