Raytheon has completed deliveries of its miniature military-grade Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) transponders to Korean Air Lines as the Republic of Korea's top air carrier develops unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

The small transponders are designed to fly on UAVs and smaller helicopters and deliver all of the military and civilian airspace performance capabilities of Raytheon's industry-leading IFF transponder product line, found on most larger military aircraft and many civilian aircraft.

"IFF transponders in this form factor, which meet all the operational and certification requirements for Mode 4 and Mode 5, incorporate the latest low-weight and power technology and would have been unheard of just a few years ago," said Glen Bassett, director of Advanced Communications and Countermeasures for Raytheon's Space and Airborne Systems business.

"This transponder also incorporates the standard KIV-77 applique, the smallest, lightest Mode 4- and Mode 5-capable crypto available."

IFF is used by civilian and military aircraft. The system is composed of an interrogator on the ground or in the air, and an airborne transponder. The interrogator measures the distance and heading to the aircraft. In response, the transponder sends out identification and position. Modes 4 and 5 are waveforms that are exclusively for defense forces.