[BeadCounter]

In my uneducated view, it would seem to be made possible to ward off hostile forces.

http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/airplane-transponders-off-switch-22951142

And this actually tells us little as far as I’m concerned.

[FatherofFive]

In my uneducated view, it would seem to be made possible to ward off hostile forces.

Interesting, but I don't buy it. Our fighters chasing hostiles do not rely on their transponders to track them. A commercial plane would be an easy target to find without a transponder.