EADS DS Modernizes Slovakian Aircraft Identification Systems

-- Reliable identification avoids accidental attacks on own forces
-- Upgrade to NATO standards enable participation in multinational crisis management missions


(July 8, 2009) -- EADS Defence & Security (DS) will modernize the identification systems of the Slovakian armed forces in order to avoid friendly fire and to increase air traffic security. According to an announcement made by the company, Defence Electronics (DE), an integrated activity of DS, has been awarded a contract for the upgrade of existing MSSR 2000 I IFF (= Identification Friend or Foe) systems to NATO Mode 4 standard .

IFF systems automatically exchange data such as origin, course, speed etc., thus enabling precise identification. This data exchange in the military field is based upon encrypted signals which cannot be analyzed or jammed by hostile forces. This supplements the information supplied by other sources and in this way improves monitoring of crisis regions. Since own forces can thus be identified quickly and reliably, accidental attacks on own or allied forces can be avoided, above all during multinational operations.
"Due to the increasing complexity of combat situations and scenarios, identification is today an existential matter during all military operations," explained Bernd Wenzler, CEO of Defence Electronics. "And thanks to those equipments, Slovakia will be able to actively participate to future NATO operations."

Source : European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company EADS N.V. (Paris: EAD.PA)