What component of the ILS provides the descent angle?

The component of the Instrument Landing System (ILS) that provides the descent angle is the glideslope. The glideslope gives pilots guidance on the appropriate angle of descent during an approach to ensure a safe landing. It typically operates at a standard descent angle of about 3 degrees, which is optimal for most runway approaches. This allows pilots to align their aircraft correctly both vertically and horizontally as they approach the runway.

While the localizer provides lateral guidance to ensure the aircraft is aligned with the centerline of the runway, and the marker beacons indicate the aircraft's position along the approach path, they do not specify the descent angle. The outer marker, a type of marker beacon, signals the aircraft's position with respect to a specific point on the approach but does not provide any information about the descent angle. Thus, the glideslope is the crucial component that directs the vertical descent path toward the runway.