Identification Friend or Foe (IFF)

Identification Friend or Foe is an identification system designed for command and control. It enables military and civilian air traffic control interrogation systems to identify aircraft, vehicles or forces as friendly, and to determine their bearing and range from the interrogator.

Collins Aerospace has more than 60 years of experience in IFF. We have installed and maintained IFF transponders and interrogators on more than 120 platforms around the world, offering a family of advanced Mark XII A, AIMS-certified IFF solutions for a multitude of military applications – in the air, on land or at sea.

In today’s ever-changing global environment, it’s more critical than ever to use a proven, secure question-and-answer system that distinguishes platforms as friendly, enemy or neutral.

Enables aircraft to operate seamlessly throughout international, civil and military airspace, while meeting all IFF and ATC requirements.

Provides full Mk XII, Mode S, Mode 5 and ADS-B capabilities in a flexible open system architecture along with an embedded TSO-certified GPS receiver for ease of integration.

Designed for UAVs and small platforms, offers a 66% reduction in volume and weight versus the standard-sized transponder.

Provides Mode 5 and legacy capabilities with user friendly menus and enhanced features for operators and maintainers.

Provides Mk XIIA capability for air defense, surveillance and air traffic control platforms. It is integrated on the U.S. and international Sentinel, Patriot as well as ATNAVICS.

Provides Mk XIIA / Mode S and passive receive capability for long-range systems.

Provides Mk XIIA / Mode S and passive receive capability for air defense, surveillance and air traffic control platforms.

Provides MK XIIA capability with enhanced reliability.

Most technically advanced, compact and lightweight interrogator available for airborne, long-range and shipboard IFF. Selected by the U.S. Air Force as part of their F-15 aircraft modernization plan.

Provides a 120-degree field of view, full built-in-test and future growth capability.

State-of-the-art cryptographic technology solution for IFF interrogators or transponders. Provides a common enterprise crypto solution that delivers significant savings in lifecycle cost and operational flexibility.

Provides full Mode 4, Mode 5, Level 1 and 2 functional checkout for KIV-77 host equipment.

Identification Friend or Foe has run on Mode 4 since the 1960s. The U.S. Department of Defense AIMS program office ceased generation of Mode 4 Crypto keys in June 2020, and has mandated the conversion for all systems to Mode 5.

Mode 5 significantly improves the ability to identify and track friendly aircraft, providing increased situational awareness to command and control and Combat-ID functions. Mode 5 improvements include new cryptography, stronger security features, modern signal modulation techniques and greater data content. The increased data capacity enables encrypted transmission and supports new data formats, including National Origin codes and Platform Identification Numbers.

Mode 5 also includes lethal interrogations designed to prevent fratricide by providing a final challenge to a targeted platform prior to weapons engagement. Lethal interrogation formats elicit a Mode 5 response even when the platform is flying radio silent or "EMCOM," short for emission control.

At Collins, we build the most advanced IFF transponders and interrogators, and we also work with our customers to ensure that the systems are properly integrated. This includes analysis and planning, platform design and development, and integration and test support.