Mode N - A new Navigation System & A-PNT Concept for Aviation

Mode N [N‘=Navigation] is a new concept for a ground-based system to provide navigation service by complementing and later substituting the currently used distance measurement equipment (DME) with a system based on secondary surveillance radar signal formats while retaining legacy DME functionality. Mode N as a terrestrial system provides an alternative position, navigation and timing system (A-PNT) to backup global navigation satellite systems. Mode N combines maximum spectrum efficiency, backward compatibility with legacy systems, easy transition from DME to Mode N without a fixed date approach and the simple exchange of avionics. This paper provides a description on the motivation to develop Mode N, the system concept and expected benefits.