[Satellite TODAY 12-27-11] Raytheon has been awarded a contract by the U.S. Air Force to incorporate Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast (ADS-B) capability into its suite of APX-119 Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) transponders, the company announced Dec. 27.

   The IFF transponders aim to support the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) NextGen plan for transformation of the National Airspace System.

The subsequent planned U.S. Air Force implementation schedule of ADS-B capability into the APX-119 transponders would be completed well in advance of the FAA deadline mandating compliance by 2020, Raytheon said.

   ADS-B is a space-based navigation system for air traffic management with joint civil and military capabilities including cockpit situational awareness, reduced aircraft separation and increased capacity.