In a standard formation, which aircraft will squawk their ATC beacon code?

In a standard formation, it is the lead aircraft that squawks the ATC beacon code. This is primarily because the lead aircraft is responsible for communicating with air traffic control (ATC) and maintaining the formation's overall situational awareness. The squawking of the ATC beacon code allows ATC to identify the lead aircraft in the formation and track its position and altitude, which is crucial for safety and coordination in the airspace.

The other aircraft in the formation typically do not squawk their own individual codes, as doing so could create additional complexity for ATC by causing unnecessary clutter on radar displays. Maintaining a single squawk code for the formation helps ATC manage the traffic more effectively and keep a clear view of the formation's movements. By consolidating the communication through the lead aircraft, it streamlines operations and enhances safety during flight.