Thales awarded Japan IFF contract

Thales will supply the Japan Ground Self Defense Force (JGSDF) with Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) interrogators with Mode 5 standard under a contract announced by the company on 20 December.

The system to be delivered is the TSA1412 miniature and lightweight IFF interrogator along with accessories. The interrogators will be used with the JGSDF’s man-portable air-defence system (MANPADS) platforms, giving operators the ability to distinguish between allied forces and potential threats, helping avoid ‘friendly fire’ and enabling faster decision making.

Mode 5 is the latest US/NATO standard; Thales has successfully demonstrated Mode 5 interoperability of the TSA1412 when integrated on Japanese MANPADS.

The TSA1412 system is currently undergoing the US DoD-AIMS certification process. Thales will work with a local partner to establish in-country I-Level maintenance capability.

Jean Louis Moraud, CEO of Thales in Japan, said: ‘Thales is very proud and honoured of the trust demonstrated by [the] Japanese customer through the notification of this first mode 5 IFF contract. Thales, together with [our] local partner, looks forward to further extend such a valuable cooperation with the Japanese armed forces.’