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Sagetech Avionics awarded $248.5M Army contract for APX-128 advanced IFF production. Sagetech Avionics In Apr 23, 2026, 11:00 ET Sagetech Avionics announces the receipt of a 10-year $248,500,000 production contract for the AN/APX-128 advanced Identify Friend or Foe (IFF) transponder, supporting the integration and deployment across Army helicopters, other Department of War assets and Foreign Military Sales. BINGEN, Wash., April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ - Sagetech Avionics Inc is excited to announce the receipt of SBIR Phase 3 contract W15P7T-26-D-A001 from the U.S. Army for the production of the new AN/APX-128 Identify Friend or Foe (IFF) transponder. This 10-year $248,500,000 Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract supports the integration and deployment of the APX-128 across Army helicopters, other Department of War assets and Foreign Military Sales. This advanced transponder includes ADS-B IN capabilities which align with anticipated requirements in the ALERT Act, currently in Congress, and can be upgraded to include the collision avoidance capability of ACAS Xr. Unlike legacy systems, the APX-128 is fully Modular Open Systems Architecture (MOSA) compliant, improving aircraft lifecycle and configuration management. "The APX-128 is a MOSA-compliant, upgradeable solution which will enhance airspace safety in training missions and protect our warfighters in combat," commented Tom Furey, CEO of Sagetech Avionics. "With a flexible architecture and modular design, this platform can be upgraded and customized for legacy and future aircraft platforms alike." The APX-128 is an extension of Sagetech's MX12B and ACX-3000M transponder lines, and was rapidly developed under a separate SBIR contract with partner R Cubed Engineering. "The rapid development of the APX-128 was a testament to the deep technical skills of Sagetech's engineering team, our partnership with the Department of War, and the robust collaboration between Sagetech, the Army, and our partners at R Cubed Engineering," described Matt Hamilton, CTO of Sagetech Avionics. "The Army's need to quickly replace an obsolete IFF in their aircraft along with increasing risks of mid-air collisions in crowded airspace created a sense of urgency among all of the collaborators, enabling Sagetech's rapid progression to production and fielding of this technology." Sagetech (https://www.sagetech.com) is extremely proud to support its warfighters with this low size, weight, power and cost system, providing significant upgrade options while seamlessly replacing legacy obsolete hardware. Media Contact SOURCE Sagetech Avionics In

Reliable Robotics flight tests validate detect and avoid capability for uncrewed aircraft. By Ben Sampson 9th April 2026 2 Mins Read Reliable Robotics has completed a flight test campaign under contract with the USA's Federal Aviation Administration to validate detect and avoid system performance for large uncrewed aircraft operating in and around airport environments. The Detect and Avoid (DAA) data collection flights were conducted under the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Broad Agency Announcement program in collaboration with Virginia Tech's Mid Atlantic Aviation Partnership and integration partners Sagetech, Collins and uAvionix. Reliable's DAA system is based on the Airborne Collision Avoidance System X (ACAS X), an FAA-developed algorithm that improves upon the existing Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System II (TCAS II) equipped in most transport-category aircraft. The system is designed to facilitate a remote pilot's responsibility to perform both remain-well-clear and collision avoidance functions against all airborne traffic. The flight testing evaluated the threshold and boundaries between en route and terminal environments around airports. It assessed the ability of the DAA system and ACAS X to provide alerts and maneuvering guidance for remote pilots in these environments. A key finding was the distinction between en route and terminal environments for DAA. The behavior and output of the ACAS X algorithm changed between the two airspaces, confirming an important adjustment that pilots under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) make to interoperate with Visual Flight Rules (VFR) aircraft. Brandon Suarez, vice president of uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) integration at Reliable Robotics, said, "Demonstrating the ability of UAS to integrate into airport environments with a VFR traffic pattern is necessary for building a scalable aviation autonomy solution. The data Reliable captured through this testing under the FAA is nearly impossible to generate in a lab environment, and is tremendously useful in the development of relevant and useful standards." To complete the contract, Reliable conducted extensive hardware-in-the-loop testing and a flight test campaign including scripted encounters in and around the terminal area at Hollister Municipal Airport in California. Reliable partnered with Sagetech for its prototype ACAS X hardware, Collins for its prototype ground-based radar, and uAvionix for its prototype Skylink C-Band communication equipment. Data collected from the campaign has been shared with RTCA Special Committee 228 and Special Committee 147 to inform validation of the next set of standards for advanced DAA systems.