Article Posted on : - Feb 18, 2016

SINGAPORE (BNS): Italy's Finmeccanica has signed a contract with Sweden's SAAB to provide Identification, Friend or Foe (IFF) systems for the Gripen NG fighters earmarked for the Air Forces of Sweden and Brazil.

The contract was signed on 17th February during the Singapore Air Show.

The IFF systems will be used to identify other aircraft and vehicles as friends and potential enemies and determine their position and distance.

The system operates independently of the other sensors, allowing the pilot to use the radar to acquire targets for later identification. The antennas of the apparatus provide a field of view of over 180 degrees, thus ensuring considerable operating advantages, Finmeccanica said.

Besides the IFF, Finmeccanica provides for the Gripen NG two primary sensors: the electronic scanning radar ES05 Raven and passive infrared sensor Skyward G- IRST (Infrared Search & Track).

The agreement with SAAB also plans to support activities for the integration of the IFF with these other sensors, the company announced.