The Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS) Mode 5 identification Friend or Foe (IFF) system has been certified for operation by the United States, making it the first non-U.S. cryptographic system cleared for U.S. use.
Lockheed Martin [LMT], one of MEADS’ major subcontractors along with MBDA, said on Sept. 3 in a statement this development is significant for the program as Mode 5 is more secure and provides positive line-of-sight identification of friendly platforms equipped with an IFF transponder to better differentiate between friend and foe.
“No other air and missile defense system has more ability to identify friendly aircraft,” North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) MEADS Management Agency (NAMEADSMA) General Manager Gregory Kee said in a statement. “This AIMS certification confirms that both MEADS radars provide the highest level of protection to allied pilots in coalition combat.”
The approved IFF system is used in both MEADS 360-degree radar configurations. The Surveillance Radar is a 360-degree, active electronically-steered array radar that provides extended range coverage. The Multifunction Fire Control Radar is a 360-degree, X-band, solid-state, phased array radar that provides precision tracking and wideband discrimination and classification capabilities. Both radars provide threat detection capability against highly maneuverable, low-signature threats, including short- and medium-range ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and other air-breathing threats.
MEADS earlier this year successfully demonstrated network interoperability with NATO systems during Joint Project Optic Windmill (JPOW) exercises. In these JPOW exercises, MEADS tactical battle management command, control, communications, computers and intelligence (BMC4I) software connected to a NATO test site in the Netherlands using a transportable air defense test bed at the German air force Air Defense Center at Fort Bliss, Texas.
MEADS International, a multinational joint venture headquartered in Orlando, Fla., is the prime contractor for the MEADS system. Mode 5 IFF certification was officially awarded by the U.S. Air Traffic Control Radar Beacon System Identification Friend or Foe Mark XII/XIIA System (AIMS) program office.