The US Navy has awarded BAE Systems a $62-million contract to establish a new service depot for the E-2D Hawkeye’s Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) system.
The facility will be integrated into the existing Fleet Readiness Center Southwest in San Diego, California, and will provide comprehensive testing, troubleshooting, diagnostics, and repair for the AN/APX-122A IFF interrogator. According to Damon Brady, BAE Systems’ director of Tactical Systems, the depot aims to reduce lifecycle costs, shorten turnaround times, and enhance platform availability and mission readiness.
BAE, with more than 80 years of experience in IFF technology, is a longstanding supplier to the US Navy. The company previously secured a $15-million contract in 2023 for its AN/UPX-50(C) interrogators on naval vessels and a $30-million deal in 2025 to upgrade the AN/APX-123A(V) common transponders across drones, ships, aircraft, and helicopters.
The E-2D Hawkeye, produced by Northrop Grumman, is a carrier-based airborne early warning and control aircraft operated by the US Navy and international users including France and Japan. It is powered by two Rolls-Royce T56-A-427A turboprops, reaching speeds above 300 knots and a service ceiling of 37,000 feet. Its AN/APY-9 radar, built by Lockheed Martin, can detect aircraft and ships beyond 550 kilometers, while the IFF system provides enhanced situational awareness and faster identification of friendly forces.
