Raytheon and Thales bag UK MoD’s Mode 5 IFF systems upgrade contract

Raytheon and Thales have been selected by the UK Ministry of Defence to carry out a one-year research into modernising the existing Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) systems to Mode 5, in a bid to comply with the latest Nato standard.

Raytheon UK chief executive Richard Daniel said: "The Raytheon and Thales collaboration combines our technical knowledge, proven equipment and long collaborative experience with the MoD.

"We are set to provide the fastest and most cost efficient solution which will exploit our SIFF installed base and provide proven low risk upgrades to the UK legacy platforms."

Currently, Thales offers Bluegate products that cover most of naval and land system Mode 5 Interrogator applications, while Raytheon provides IFF4810 Mode 5 upgrade solution for most air and naval Mode 5 transponder uses.

The IFF Mode 5 subsystems from both firms integrate a common US-sourced KIV-77 Mode 4/5 cryptographic computer, which is currently operational with the US armed forces.

Thales UK CEO Victor Chavez said: "By bringing together best-in-class capability and extensive knowledge of UK platforms from both companies, we will deliver a low risk and cost effective solution to this important UK programme.

"Our respective companies have already delivered Mode 5 IFF to a number of Nato forces and this programme gives us the opportunity to extend this critical upgrade to UK platforms to maintain their interoperability in future Nato coalition forces."