News

Garmin is pleased to announce the launch of new distance measuring equipment (DME) products – the GDM 4500 and GDM 450R.These two digital, cutting-edge, remote-mount DME radios are designed to provide slant range information on select Garmin avionics systems and displays. Both products allow pilots to track two separate DMEs simultaneously. Compatible Garmin avionics can also automatically scan and adjust for up to three additional DME frequencies. The GDM 450R is designed for Part 23 general aviation aircraft, while the GDM 4500 features an environmentally hardened design and turbine/helicopter specific interfaces. Both products offer a cost-effective way to add or upgrade DME capabilities on many popular aircraft.

The GDM 450R can display range information on selected Garmin integrated flight decks as well as TXi™ flight displays. The pilot can radio-navigate up to two separate DME frequencies, providing slant range relative to a DME ground station.

For added flexibility, the DME holdover feature maintains active DME range indications when the associated radio navigation is tuned to a different frequency. With an optional enable feature, compatible Garmin avionics can automatically scan and tune up to three additional DME frequencies. Pilots can take advantage of this multi-channel capability for DME-DME area navigation (RNAV), using range calculations from two or more DME ground stations to determine the aircraft’s position on an RNAV route.

In addition, the free scan function allows the system to search for DMEs within range. For integration with conventional distance indicators and radio navigation, the GDM 450R also supports conventional data bus connections.

Designed for turbine aircraft and helicopters, the GDM 4500 meets higher certification levels and is environmentally hardened. In addition to Garmin integrated flight decks and TXi displays, it is also compatible with selected third-party systems supported by ARINC 429. The GDM 4500 is equipped with autoscan capabilities and DME-DME navigation and is supported by a compatible FMS.

The GDM 4500 and GDM 450R are expected to begin shipping in the third quarter of 2025. Updated TXi flight display software will be released when available, eliminating the need for the GAD 43e by enabling HSDB connectivity to each radio. Future software updates for the GTN Xi navigators and TXi flight displays will be required to enable advanced multi-channel capabilities. In addition to a compatible navigation device and flight display on the aircraft, the GDM 4500 and GDM 450R require an L-band DME antenna (sold separately).

The part numbers are shown in the table below. If you have any questions, please contact us.