Cassidian to supply IFF systems to French forces

Cassidian will supply the French Armed Forces with advanced identification systems used to prevent friendly fire, the company announced on 16 July.

The French defence procurement agency, the DGA, recently awarded Cassidian a contract to supply 150 units of its newly developed MSR 1000 I interrogator for short-range friend-or-foe identification (IFF). The first units will be delivered by mid-2014.

The systems are destined for installation on the army’s Mistral missile launchers and Martha air defence command and control stations as well as on the armoured launch vehicles of the air force’s Crotale NG missile.

According to the company, the MSR 1000 I (MSR standing for monopulse secondary radar) is a suitable product for many platforms requiring Mode 5 such as Stinger, the German LeFlaSys or the British HVM.

‘The MSR 1000 I will be able to quickly and safely identify aircraft by using highly sophisticated encryption techniques to avoid hostile signal manipulation, thus overcoming the limits of the present IFF systems and facilitating commanders’ decisions whether to engage aircraft or not,’ the company said in a statement.

‘At the same time, a new civil mode S can thus be used by both civil and military authorities. Mode S actually helps to manage the growing volume of civil air traffic, improving the efficiency of flight control by addressing aircraft with their unique identity code.’

Meanwhile, Cassidian signed an agreement at the Farnborough International Airshow with EADS North America and ITT Exelis to work together to provide enhanced electronic warfare solutions, particularly in the area of aircraft survivability equipment.

In a memorandum of understanding, the three companies agreed to combine their respective capabilities for targeted global opportunities. One of their first joint projects is expected to be a missile approach warning solution for the US Air National Guard.