Techniques are provided for an Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) transponder. A system implementing the techniques according to an embodiment includes an antenna array configured to operate in an omnidirectional mode and a steered directional mode. The system also includes a receiver configured to receive signals provided through the antenna array while operating in the omnidirectional mode and a detector configured to detect an IFF interrogation message in the received signals. The system further includes an angle of arrival (AOA) estimator configured to operate the antenna array in the steered directional mode to estimate an AOA of the IFF interrogation message. The system further includes a transmitter configured to operate the antenna array in the steered directional mode to transmit an IFF response message in the estimated AOA direction. The transmit power of the IFF response message may be based on, for example, the steering gain of the antenna array.