NATO has selected Türkiye’s defense firm ASELSAN to supply advanced friend-or-foe identification systems for portable air defense systems, as the alliance seeks to strengthen deterrence and reduce misidentification risks amid rising aerial threats.
The NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) will procure Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) systems from ASELSAN for Man-Portable Air Defense Systems (MANPADS) under a three-year framework agreement, according to an official announcement.
The systems will enable NATO forces to distinguish friendly aircraft from hostile targets in real time, enhancing operational effectiveness and interoperability across allied air defense units.
ASELSAN, one of the few companies worldwide capable of producing NATO-certified Mode-5 IFF systems, will supply the alliance with its latest-generation technology. The company has extensive experience in secure IFF solutions and has previously delivered systems compatible with NATO standards.
What Is Mode-5 IFF?
Mode-5 IFF is NATO’s most advanced and secure friend-or-foe identification standard. Compared with earlier IFF modes, Mode-5 offers enhanced encryption, higher data security, and improved resistance to electronic jamming.
Designed for contested and electronic-warfare-intensive environments, Mode-5 minimizes the risk of misidentification and friendly-fire incidents while ensuring full interoperability during joint NATO operations. As such, it is considered a critical component of the alliance’s modern integrated air and missile defense architecture.
