Xref: utzoo sci.electronics:7645 sci.crypt:2258 Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!ncar!asuvax!anasaz!john From: john@anasaz.UUCP (John Moore) Newsgroups: sci.electronics,sci.crypt Subject: Military IFF - How does it work? Message-ID: <689@anasaz.UUCP> Date: 4 Sep 89 14:35:42 GMT Reply-To: john@anasaz.UUCP (John Moore) Followup-To: sci.electronics Organization: Anasazi Inc, Phoenix AZ Lines: 22 I was reading a recent Clancy-style novel and it was describing an AWACS controlled fighter battle. In it, the use of IFF was described. IFF (Identify Friend or Foe) is used by both civilian and military aircraft. In the civilian case, a an interrogator associated with a radar sends out a signal, and the IFF transponder replies with information coded to show the "squalk code" and, in mode C, the altitute. My question is: how does the military system work. It has the following additional requirements: (1) It should only respond to a "friendly" interrogator (2) It should not emit easily detectable signals (3) It's signals should be encrypted so that, if they are intercepted, they provide minimal information to the enemy. Does anyone know how this is done and how many of the above requirements are met? -- John Moore (NJ7E) mcdphx!anasaz!john asuvax!anasaz!john (602) 861-7607 (day or eve) long palladium, short petroleum 7525 Clearwater Pkwy, Scottsdale, AZ 85253 The 2nd amendment is about military weapons, NOT JUST hunting weapons!