Thales To Upgrade French Military IFF Transponders

Thales announced Wednesday that it has just won a contract to upgrade the IFF (Identification Friend or Foe) transponders in service with the French armed forces. 

IFF prevents friendly fire incidents in the theatre of operations by identifying friendly units and ensures the monitoring of military and civil air traffic. 

Thales has been awarded the contract to upgrade the IFF systems in service with the French armed forces to the latest standards: Mode 5 (the new secure standard for military use), Mode S (the latest civil standard) and the collaborative airspace surveillance standard ADS-B (Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast). 

The contract includes around 300 IFF units for helicopters, combat aircraft, transport aircraft, maritime patrol aircraft, surface ships and submarines operated by French forces.

Aircraft equipped with IFF systems meeting the latest NATO and ICAO standards are authorized to fly unrestricted in civil and military airspace.