Navy needs GPS-based ID technology for Wichita-built planes

The Navy is awarding $8 million to Textron Aviation Defense for an equipment upgrade to its training aircraft.

The upgrade is for automatic dependent surveillance broadcast, or ADS-B, kits on the Navy’s fleet of Beechcraft T-6 trainer airplanes.

The Federal Aviation Administration is mandating the GPS-based identification technology be on all aircraft flying in controlled airspace by Jan. 1, 2020.

According to a Department of Defense contract award announcement, the award covers ADS-B kits on 251 Navy and four Army T-6s, which are to be installed by the Wichita-based company by September 2018.

This story was originally published November 1, 2017 at 6:01 AM.