Leveraging COTS Products for Maneuverable Aerial Identification

Although ground troops are equipped with identification, friend or foe (IFF) devices, many fratricide cases still occur during air-to-ground operations. This research project explored how relatively inexpensive commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) technologies can be leveraged to construct a maneuverable aerial identification friend-or-foe (MAIFF) device.

Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California

Ground troops are equipped with identification-friend-or-foe (IFF) devices. When they are engaged in a firefight, they seek cover and concealment, and consequently, their attached IFF are also covered and concealed. The situation is aggravated when firefights happen at night in vegetated areas, presenting additional challenges for air force pilots when conducting close air support (CAS) operations. Hence, ground troops need to be able to deploy a visual reference above the canopy of vegetation while they remain concealed physically. By contrast, the absence of visual reference may result in the delay of pilots positively identifying the friendly forces; provide additional time for enemy action; expose aircraft unnecessarily; and potentially cause fratricide.

This research project explored how relatively inexpensive commercial-off-the shelf (COTS) technologies can be leveraged to construct a maneuverable aerial identification friend-or-foe (MAIFF) device. It would serve as a visual reference to enhance the situation awareness (SA) of pilots performing night CAS operations. This maneuverable device does not have a direct back azimuth to the soldier's specific location.