Finmeccanica, through the Avionics and Space Systems division, has signed contracts with SAAB to supply IFF (Identification Friend or Foe) systems for the Gripen Next Generation (Gripen NG) aircraft for the Swedish and Brazilian Air Force.
The IFF will be used to identify other aircraft or vehicles as friends or potential enemies and determine their location and distance. This system operates independently of the other sensors, allowing the pilot to use the radar to acquire targets for later identification. The equipment's antennas offer a visual field of over 180 degrees, thus guaranteeing considerable operational advantages. Each IFF system consists of a transponder and an interrogator. Also included is a secure encryption technology for data protection, customized according to customer needs. The transponder, model Mode 5 M428, is of the same type offered to the UK Ministry of Defense to meet NATO's requirement for a new IFF standard that can be integrated on all platforms.
In addition to the IFF, Finmeccanica supplies two other primary sensors for the Gripen NG: the Raven ES05 electronic scanning radar and the Skyward-G IRST (Infrared Search & Track) passive infrared sensor. The agreement with SAAB also includes support activities for the integration of the IFF with these other sensors.
(photo: Stefan Kalm, SAAB AB)
