Frank Messina

In Part II, the various SSR/IFF modes of operation are explored including civil modes A, B, C, D and S, and military modes 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. Although some of these modes are no longer widely used, they are included for reference. The waveforms and data content associated with these modes are also explored. Issues created by False Replies Unsynchronized in Time (FRUIT) are presented in addition to mitigation techniques such as Gain Time Control (GTC) and staggering. Other topics covered include garble conditions and horizontal/vertical multipath.

Biography:

Frank Messina is the Chief Engineer of the SSR and IFF products for Telephonics. Frank has 50 years of experience in the design, development, and fielding of innovative IFF and SSR products for Military and Civil use. Frank is the lead IFF Interrogator Systems Engineer for the world’s fleet of AWACS aircraft, US Navy P8-A Multi-Mission Aircraft (MMA), US Navy MH-60R aircraft, Canadian Maritime Patrol Aircraft (CP140), Canadian Maritime Helicopter (MHP), Canadian Frigate Upgrade, USMC G/ATOR, USAF D-RAPCON, Mode 5 Operational Autonomous Surveillance (M5 OAS), SAAB Giraffe Mobile Platforms and other ground, shipboard and airborne based products at Telephonics.

Earlier in his career, Frank was the lead engineer for the FAA Common Digitizer 2 (CD-2) SSR Beacon Extractor System. Frank was also instrumental in adding full Mode S interrogator capability to the NATO AWACS, which represents the first military IFF interrogator system to integrate the high-priority AEW Military IFF Modes with Mode S. He was also the IFF team leader for the design and development of the AN/APS-147 and AN/APS-153 IFF interrogator system – the first integrated and tightly-coupled Multi-Mode Radar and IFF interrogator fusion system. More recently, Frank lead the design and development of the AN/UPR-4(V) Passive Detection and Reporting System (PDRS) and Small Form Factor SFF-44 All-Mode Active and Passive IFF system.