UAV & Drone Transponders

Find Drone Transponder manufacturers and suppliers of lightweight, miniature & micro transponders for UAV including Mode A, Mode B, Mode S and ADS-B transponders
Overview UAV & Drone Transponders
By Technology Editor Last updated: October 20th, 2023

Transponders for Unmanned Systems and Robotics

Lightweight, Miniature and Microtransponders for Drones, UAVs and RPAS

Certified ADS-B drone UAV transpondersA transponder (portmanteau of transmitter-responder) is a device that receives an RF (radio frequency) interrogation signal and in response, transmits a different signal. Transponders are used in both manned and unmanned aviation to provide information about an aircraft.

Military aircraft will use IFF transponders to provide an IFF (Identification Friend or Foe), transmitting a coded identification signal that identifies them as non-threatening. Civil aviation also uses transponders to identify individual aircraft, allowing air traffic control to track all flights within a particular airspace, resulting in improved safety and efficiency.

Transponder interrogation is usually performed by secondary surveillance radar (SSR), a ground-based radar system used by air traffic control specifically for aircraft identification. Interrogation signals are broadcast on 1030 MHz and reply transmissions on 1090 MHz.

Drone Transponders

ADS-B UAV TranspondersTransponders are used by drones to provide collision avoidance and situational awareness capabilities, helping to maintain safe distances between a drone and other manned or unmanned aircraft.

Transponders are especially important for smaller drones that may not be visible to main air traffic control radar. Recent advances in miniaturization and electronic technologies have allowed compact and lightweight miniature transponders and microtransponder to be manufactured for even the smallest UAVs.

Transponder Modes

ping20si Mode S ADS-B transponderStandard communication formats of aviation transponders are known as modes, and are generally differentiated by the spacing between transmission pulses. Modes 1 to 5 are designated for military use, and there are also a number of other modes used by civil aviation transponders.

Mode A receives an interrogation request and replies with the aircraft’s predefined four-digit identification code.

Mode C augments the Mode A broadcast with an additional pressure altitude reading, which is provided by either an integrated or external altitude encoder.

Mode S is a Mode A- and C-compatible but significantly enhanced mode, which is capable of interrogating one aircraft at a time to reduce transponder workload. It uses a more robust communication protocol that can transmit a wider variety of information, as well as reducing frequency congestion and improving position accuracy.

ADS-B Transponders for Drones

Drone transponders can also be used to broadcast ADS-B (Automatic Dependent Surveillance—Broadcast) information. ADS-B is a tracking technology being considered as a potential replacement for the above secondary surveillance radar air traffic control modes, and may be a key component of future UTM (unmanned traffic management) systems.

ADS-B transponders automatically broadcast an aircraft’s identification, GNSS position, velocity and altitude in response to an interrogation signal.

Products (13)

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ping200XR – Mode S ADS-B Transponder

Certified Mode S ADS-B UAV Transponder with Integrated GPS

Certified Mode S ADS-B UAV Transponder with Integrated GPS
...ified ping200X transponder with an internal TSO-certified GPS, providing aviation-grade avionics...
ping200X – Mode S ADS-B Transponder

Certified UAV Mode S Transponder with ADS-B OUT

Certified UAV Mode S Transponder with ADS-B OUT
...de S ADS-B OUT transponder for UAS....
RT-2087/ZPX – IFF Mode 5 Transponder

IFF Mode 5 Transponder with Mode S and ADS-B (UAS Groups 1-5)

IFF Mode 5 Transponder with Mode S and ADS-B (UAS Groups 1-5)
...l surveillance transponder....
ZPX-1 IFF Mode 5 Transponder / Receiver

Mode 5 IFF Combined Transponder / Receiver for UAS

Mode 5 IFF Combined Transponder / Receiver for UAS
...d or Foe (IFF) Transponder and Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast (ADS-B) requirements...
ZPX-A – Mode S Transponder

AIMS Certified Micro Transponder for UAVs

AIMS Certified Micro Transponder for UAVs
...ed to meet the Transponder and Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast (ADS-B) surveillance...
LiveU LU300S

Compact 4K HDR unit for on-the-move live drone video streaming

Compact 4K HDR unit for on-the-move live drone video streaming
...adcasting of a drone video feed at up to 4K 10-bit HDR over 5G and other cellular/IP networks at a...
LiveU Matrix

Advanced cloud-based live streaming platform for drone video distribution

Advanced cloud-based live streaming platform for drone video distribution
...les sharing of drone video feeds with members of your organization or external stakeholders located...
LiveU Video Return

Real-time video return feed sharing service

Real-time video return feed sharing service
...eturn feeds of drone video footage to be broadcast from the command center to field crews with...
LiveU LU800

Multi-camera field unit for mission-critical 5G drone video transmission

Multi-camera field unit for mission-critical 5G drone video transmission
...-critical live drone video transmission. Supporting up to four fully synced video feeds and...
MXS Transponder

Mode S Micro Transponder with Mandate Compliant ADS-B In and Out

Mode S Micro Transponder with Mandate Compliant ADS-B In and Out
... MXS miniature transponder provides Mode...
MX12B IFF Transponder

The World’s First Micro Certified Mode 5 IFF Transponder. Compact all-in-one unit.

The World’s First Micro Certified Mode 5 IFF Transponder. Compact all-in-one unit.
...next-gen Mx12B transponder is the only micro Mode 5 IFF transponder fully compliant with DOD AIMS Mk...
TR-10 ADS-B Transponder

Plug-and-play ADS-B transponder with Mode S

Plug-and-play ADS-B transponder with Mode S
... and low-power transponder offering ADS-B Out, MODE-S downlink (OUT) and MODE-S uplink (IN)...
The HOD (Hook-On-Device)

The Hook-On-Device (HOD) for UAS and other aircraft (such as helicopters) to transmit their position

The Hook-On-Device (HOD) for UAS and other aircraft (such as helicopters) to transmit their position
The Hook-On-Device (HOD) for UAS and other aircraft (such as helicopters) to transmit their own po...

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