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2017-04-02

HENSOLDT & LEONARDO join forces to offer Mode-5 identification systems

HENSOLDT and Leonardo have signed an agreement to offer “Team Skytale” Mode-5 IFF (Identification Friend or Foe) solutions in order to satisfy diverse customer’s needs around the world on a case-by-case basis. Both companies have already been selected by the UK Ministry of Defence to upgrade IFF systems on more than 450 land, sea and air platforms with an Initial Operational Capability delivery date of June 2019.

IFF systems, so-called secondary surveillance radars (SSR), precisely identify ships and aircraft by automatically sending interrogation signals, which are answered by so-called transponders on-board friendly aircraft or ships. Thus, IFF enables field commanders to quickly distinguish friendly from hostile forces. Unlike Mode 4 used hitherto, Mode 5 employs the latest cryptographic techniques to avoid hostile signal manipulation, thus ensuring that the identification process is absolutely reliable and secure.

In 2020, all NATO and allied nations are mandated to switch over to the new, more-secure Mode-5 version of the technology and other nations looking to operate alongside NATO forces will also need to be able to interact with the new standard. Leonardo and HENSOLDT are the companies outside of the United States to be able to offer a cryptographic computer or ‘crypto’ that meets the US Department of Defense SECAN TEMPEST requirements and the AIMS 04-900(A) interface control standard, making Team Skytale’s European solution readily exportable to a wide range of potential international customers.

HENSOLDT is under contract to upgrade German, French, US and other armed forces’ platforms with Mode 5 IFF systems. It has already delivered IFF systems, including crypto devices, to 42 NATO and NATO-allied nations, for ground and naval applications. Among others, the company’s equipment is deployed on all German Navy ships as well as several UK Royal Navy ships. In Germany, the company has established the air traffic control/IFF network of the German Air Force covering airspace of 1,700 x 1,500 kilometres. In total, HENSOLDT has about 450 IFF systems under contract for more than 80 platform types.

IFF benefits

IFF allows operators to identify friendly forces and distinguish them from potential threats. It does this by sending out an interrogation signal to unidentified aircraft and verifying the automatic responses received, effectively a modern-day challenge and password system. Ensuring that ground, air and naval crews can reliably recognise their compatriots is one of the main ways of avoiding ‘friendly fire’ incidents.

Team Skytale

Following contract award, Team Skytale will upgrade all MoD platforms, which have an out-of-service date after 2020, including 11 aircraft types (managed by Leonardo-Finmeccanica), 18 naval and two land-based platform types (managed by Airbus DS EBS). A sovereign support capability will also be provided, with the team establishing a UK-based Mode 5 IFF support hub.

A key element of the team’s approach is to minimise equipment types, using the Leonardo-Finmeccanica M428 Transponder and SIT 2010 cryptographic computer for all platforms. Both products were designed at Leonardo-Finmeccanica’s site in L'Aquila, Italy with some development work carried out in Basildon, UK. They will be manufactured at the company’s site in Latina. Airbus DS EBS will provide its proven MSSR 2000 and MSR 1000 Interrogator as well as its BTI 1000 test equipment. It has delivered about 400 IFF interrogator systems to 30 countries worldwide. Among others, EBS’ MSSR 2000 I interrogator is deployed on ships of the German, French and UK Royal Navy. In Germany, EBS has set up the air traffic control network of the German Air Force.

HENSOLDT is a globally leading supplier of premium sensors for security and surveillance missions. The company is one of the world’s market leaders in areas such as missile warning systems and submarine periscopes. Moreover, HENSOLDT is well represented in the market for radar systems, optronics and electronic protection systems.

The company was formed from Airbus’ defence electronics activities, which were spun off from the Airbus Group in 2017 and have now entered the market together with the former Airbus DS Optronics as a new sensor house under the brand name of HENSOLDT.

Leonardo-Finmeccanica is a leader in IFF technology. In the UK, the company has previously delivered Mode 5 IFF for the Royal Navy’s Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers and Royal Air Force Eurofighter Typhoons. Internationally, the company provides Mode 5 IFF technology for the Saab Gripen E fighter, has recently demonstrated innovative reverse-IFF (air-to-ground) capabilities on Italian Typhoon aircraft and is currently studying, within an UK MoD programme, this new capability for the future Eurofighter.

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