Finmeccanica, through its Airborne and Space Systems division, has signed contracts to provide Identification, Friend or Foe (IFF) systems for the Gripen Next Generation (Gripen NG) aircraft earmarked for the Air Forces of Sweden and Brazil.

The IFF systems will be used by Gripen pilots to identify other aircraft or vehicles as friendly (or potentially unfriendly) and to determine their bearing and range from the aircraft. Independent from the Gripen NG’s radar and other sensors, the IFF system can look in a different direction, allowing the pilot to use the radar to queue-up targets for subsequent identification. Of particular note, the IFF system’s separate antennas give it a wide, more-than 180-degree field of regard, providing operational benefits.