The US Navy has entered into a significant $62-million agreement with BAE Systems to establish a new service depot dedicated to the Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) system used in the E-2D Hawkeye aircraft. This new maintenance center will be integrated into the existing depot line at the Fleet Readiness Center Southwest located in San Diego, California.
This facility will be responsible for a range of crucial functions, including testing, troubleshooting, diagnostics, and repair capabilities for the AN/APX-122A IFF interrogator system. The creation of this service depot is aimed at reducing lifecycle costs and turnaround times, thereby enhancing the Navy’s mission readiness and accessibility of the platform.
Damon Brady, the director of Tactical Systems at BAE Systems, emphasized the benefits of this initiative, highlighting its potential to improve operational efficiency within the Navy. With over 80 years of experience in IFF technology, BAE Systems has solidified its status as a pivotal and long-standing supplier of IFF systems to various platforms within the US Navy.
In recent years, BAE has secured several pertinent contracts, including a $15-million deal in 2023 to provide the AN/UPX-50(C) interrogator for naval vessels. Additionally, in 2025, the company was awarded a $30-million contract aimed at upgrading the AN/APX-123A(V) common transponder technology, which will be utilized across the Navy’s fleet of drones, ships, aircraft, and helicopters.
The E-2D Hawkeye, produced by Northrop Grumman, serves as an advanced carrier-based airborne early warning and control aircraft for the US Navy and other international clients, such as France and Japan. It is powered by two Rolls-Royce T56-A-427A turboprop engines, allowing it to achieve a top speed exceeding 300 knots (approximately 555 kilometers or 345 miles per hour) and a capable service ceiling of 37,000 feet (11,277 meters).
Equipped with the AN/APY-9 radar developed by Lockheed Martin, the Hawkeye is able to detect and track aircraft and ships at impressive ranges surpassing 550 kilometers (about 341 miles). The aircraft’s IFF system plays a crucial role in facilitating quicker decision-making and improving situational awareness for operators, enabling them to effectively differentiate friendly aircraft from potential threats. The IFF system itself is manufactured at BAE’s facilities located in Greenlawn, New York, and Manassas, Virginia.
