NGIFF systems supplied by Leonardo for Italian Armed Forces platforms
Leonardo has been awarded a contract to deliver ‘New Generation Identification Friend or Foe’ (NGIFF) systems to the Italian Armed Forces.
Under the six-year contract, NGIFF identification equipment will be installed on Italian land and naval platforms to upgrade them to Nato Mode 5 Baseline 3 standard. The contract is valued at approximately €75m.
According to minimum military requirements (MMR) for air-to-air and surface-to-air identification, Nato allied forces are required to use Mode 5-capable systems.
The Mode 5 standard improves threat identification and security of the Italian Armed Forces. During joint operations, the upgrade will ensure complete interoperability.
In addition, the IFF helps allied forces to distinguish from potential threats.
Leonardo has not disclosed the exact number of NGIFF interrogators and cryptographic units it will deliver.
However, the company noted that several hundreds of these units will enhance land and naval platforms across 15 different classes and types.
Loading ...The upgraded equipment will be entirely sourced from the Italian industry. Leonardo’s cryptographic unit is the only competitor and alternative available in the market compared to the one produced in the US.
The NGIFF identification equipment will be installed on Italian helicopters and aircraft in future.
Leonardo is also updating the IFF systems of more than 400 air, land and naval platforms for the UK Armed Forces.
The company has teamed up with a partner firm to deliver the upgrade.
In July 2016, Leonardo, formerly known as Leonardo-Finmeccanica, was contracted to supply an IFF system for the Japan Ground Self Defense Force (JGSDF).
Gloss