<p>Scientific Advisor to the defence minister, V K Saraswat on Wednesday said the Centre for Air-Borne Systems (CABS), a Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) laboratory, had successfully developed and ‘productionised’ an Identification of Friend or Foe (IFF) system.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Stating that the system would be fitted on the Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft, to be received from Brazil soon, Saraswat said: “IFF Mk-12(S), the latest version of the warning system, can be fitted on any platform, including aircraft, ships, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) and also on missiles.<br /><br />“The IFF Mk-12(S) is a spin-off to the AEW&C programme and contains an integrator, transponder and combined interrogator and transponder to meet the needs of tri-services,” he said.<br /><br />“An indigenous IFF is not only a requirement for AEW&C, it is also a requirement of the Light Combat Aircraft Tejas. So once the product is available in large numbers it will find a place in all DRDO developed aircraft platforms, including LCA, ALH and so on,” Saraswat added.<br /><br />All the existing aircraft currently have an older version of IFF––Mk-10––and have now been mandated to upgrade to MK-12. The DRDO is expecting a large order from the Indian Air Force (IAF).<br /><br />CABS Director S Christopher said that the lab had adapted the design conforming to the international standard- ICAO/STANAG 4193 - for its IFF. <br /><br />Speaking to reporters on the sidelines, Saraswat said that Agni-5 could double up as a satellite launcher for hurling into space, small sized spacecrafts. He said that Agni-V had major propulsion blocks and suitable aviation technology that made it a suitable launch vehicle to put small satellites in near space.<br /><br />“We can put in space light weight satellites, meant for lower orbit and their endurance limits ... We have started working on this but I cannot give you a time frame,” he said.<br /></p>
<p>Scientific Advisor to the defence minister, V K Saraswat on Wednesday said the Centre for Air-Borne Systems (CABS), a Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) laboratory, had successfully developed and ‘productionised’ an Identification of Friend or Foe (IFF) system.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Stating that the system would be fitted on the Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft, to be received from Brazil soon, Saraswat said: “IFF Mk-12(S), the latest version of the warning system, can be fitted on any platform, including aircraft, ships, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) and also on missiles.<br /><br />“The IFF Mk-12(S) is a spin-off to the AEW&C programme and contains an integrator, transponder and combined interrogator and transponder to meet the needs of tri-services,” he said.<br /><br />“An indigenous IFF is not only a requirement for AEW&C, it is also a requirement of the Light Combat Aircraft Tejas. So once the product is available in large numbers it will find a place in all DRDO developed aircraft platforms, including LCA, ALH and so on,” Saraswat added.<br /><br />All the existing aircraft currently have an older version of IFF––Mk-10––and have now been mandated to upgrade to MK-12. The DRDO is expecting a large order from the Indian Air Force (IAF).<br /><br />CABS Director S Christopher said that the lab had adapted the design conforming to the international standard- ICAO/STANAG 4193 - for its IFF. <br /><br />Speaking to reporters on the sidelines, Saraswat said that Agni-5 could double up as a satellite launcher for hurling into space, small sized spacecrafts. He said that Agni-V had major propulsion blocks and suitable aviation technology that made it a suitable launch vehicle to put small satellites in near space.<br /><br />“We can put in space light weight satellites, meant for lower orbit and their endurance limits ... We have started working on this but I cannot give you a time frame,” he said.<br /></p>