Garmin unveils new Distance Measuring Equipment

Garmin has announced new distance measuring equipment (DME) products - the GDM 4500 and GDM 450R. These digital remote-mount DME radios are designed to provide slant-distance information on select Garmin flight decks and displays. Both products can allow pilots to track two separate DMEs simultaneously. Compatible Garmin avionics can also automatically scan up to three additional DME frequencies. The GDM 450R is designed for Part 23 general aviation aircraft, while the GDM 4500 includes additional environmental hardening and interfaces for turbine aircraft and helicopters.

"Given the increased interest among aircraft owners for alternative navigation sources, we are excited to now offer a ground-based DME solution. While DME technology has been available for decades, these new Garmin solutions will help modernize the capabilities on many aircraft, and we look forward to seeing pilots leverage these features around the world," stated Carl Wolf, Garmin Vice President of Aviation Sales, Marketing. 

The GDM 450R can display distance information on select Garmin integrated flight decks, as well as TXi flight displays. Up to two separate DME frequencies can be tuned by the pilot via the navigation radios, providing slant-range distance relative to DME ground stations. For additional flexibility, the DME hold capability maintains the active DME distance indication when tuning the associated NAV radio to a different frequency. With an optional enablement, compatible Garmin avionics can automatically scan and tune up to three additional DME frequencies. Pilots can use this multi-channel capability for DME-DME Area Navigation (RNAV), using distance calculations from two or more DME ground stations to determine the aircraft's position for RNAV routes. Additionally, the Free Scan Capability allows the system to search for DMEs in range. For integration with legacy distance indicators and navigation radios, GDM 450R also supports legacy databus connections.

Explicitly designed for turbine aircraft and helicopters, the GDM 4500 meets higher qualification levels and is environmentally hardened. Along with Garmin integrated flight decks and TXi displays, it is also compatible with select third-party systems, enabled by ARINC 429 support. The Free Scan capability and DME-DME navigation capability come standard with the GDM 4500.

The GDM 4500 and GDM 450R DME radios are expected to be available in the third quarter of 2025.

(article source: Garmin / editor: Anton van Rijsbergen)
(image source: Garmin)