Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) has signed an $11 million contract with BAE Systems to integrate the company’s latest Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) technology into the KF-21 Boramae fighter aircraft.
Under the agreement, BAE Systems will deliver its AN/APX-127(V)1 Combined Interrogator Transponder (CIT), enhancing the 4.5-generation fighter’s ability to reliably distinguish friendly forces from potential threats. Integration work is being carried out at BAE facilities in Greenlawn, New York, and Austin, Texas, with delivery, integration, and certification scheduled for 2026.
The CIT was specifically developed for tactical aircraft and features an open-system architecture, allowing for straightforward software upgrades that reduce cost, risk, and reliance on hardware modifications. The system also incorporates advanced cryptographic protection, anti-jamming capability, and robust cybersecurity features.
BAE’s AN/APX-127(V)1 is designed as a direct replacement for the AN/APX-126(V) currently installed on the KF-21, enabling installation without structural changes to the aircraft. The system is Mark XIIB-certified, supporting Mode S and Mode 5 encrypted communications to ensure secure interoperability with allied air forces.
Enhanced situational awareness is further enabled through additional receive channels that allow passive acquisition of Mode 5 Level 2 and ADS-B In signals, giving pilots improved identification of friendly aircraft operating in congested or contested airspace.
