I read the article, and it has some inaccuracies. the biggest is that y and x mode use different frequencies, they don't, they just use different pulse pair intervals (along with some other changes) (x=12 microseconds and (I think) y=30 microseconds) (for the TACAN part, the ILS paired frequencies change a little).
Also, in real life I'm, pretty sure you can't use it to get the distance to your wingman, aircraft generally don't (except for tankers and such) have the equipment to reply to another aircrafts TACAN interrogations (could be wrong, who knows)).
Thanks
Joel