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Counter-Drone Identification Friend or Foe Tech

Jan 14, 2020

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With the threat of small UAS increasing warfighters must have the ability to protect themselves. A new technology has demonstrated the delivery of Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) information to Counter-UAS (C-UAS) operators, which resulted in the successful execution of an engagement against “hostile” UAS. The demonstration took place at the US Army Futures Command Maneuver and Fires Integration Experiment (MFIX).

Pierce Aerospace, a Remote ID UAS Service Supplier (RID-USS), participated in the first C-UAS engagement that confirmed positive ID of UAS with a Remote ID system. The technology dubbed Flight Portal ID (FPID) is for the commercial and defense markets.

The demonstration involved Northrop Grumman’s Sophisticated Counter Unmanned Systems Weapon Radio Frequency (SCUWR) C-UAS system of systems, consisting of a Liteye’s Anti-UAV Defeat System “AUDS” and SCUWR’s 30mm X 113mm Chain Gun mounted on a US Army Stryker armored vehicle.

According to aviationpros.com, the FPID was used to identify friendly aircraft during the engagement. The system of systems approach resulted in the FPID equipped UAS surviving the engagement and continuing its mission. The hostile aircraft did not survive. Operators in the Stryker were not briefed on which UAS was friendly, and relied on IFF information from the FPID display inside the Stryker to obtain positive identification of friend or foe prior to engagement.

FPID is a dual-use Remote ID technology suite designed to serve commercial unmanned traffic management and C-UAS systems. This demonstration reflects positive results for advancing and fielding FPID integrated efforts, including Northrop Grumman’s Mobile Demonstrator – a mobile C-UAS system designed for use in civilian environments.

“Combining a kinetic and electronic attack capability continues to prove a reliable solution to defeat malicious drones,” said Dan Olson, vice president, armament systems, Northrop Grumman. “The reliability of our gun systems and the development of advanced ammunition types creates a very capable system that provides the ability to meet the future requirement to counter unmanned systems.”