French armed forces signs deal with EADS subsidiary for friendly fire prevention programme

The Farnborough International Airshow – 2012, which is currently ongoing in the County of Hampshire, England has become the venue for yet another major defence deal.

Cassidian, the defence and security division of European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS), today announced that they will be supplying 150 of their identification systems to the French military. The systems can significantly reduce the incidents of friendly fire, and is in high demand worldwide.

The contract was signed by the Direction Générale de l’Armement (DGA), the French defence equipment procurement agency and the officials from Cassidian. Media sources said that Cassidian will provide the French military 150 units of the Monopulse Secondary Radar (MSR) 1000 I interrogator, which can be used for Friend-or-Foe Identification (FFI), during various military operations.

Officials from the EADS subsidiary claimed that the system is capable of safely identifying military aircraft, within the minimum possible timeframe. They also said that the most advanced technology available currently is used in the systems, including several layers of enhanced encryption techniques. The head of the Cassidian SAS in France, Bruno Rambaud said that the contract with the French Armed Forces enhanced the status of the MSR 1000 I systems, and claimed that the system has become the most sought after device for short range and very short range FFI.

Meanwhile, the French military officials claimed that the first deliveries of the system will start by the end of 2014. During the first phase, the system will be installed on the Mistral surface-to-air missiles operated by the French army. Later they will be added to the MARTHA air defence command and control stations, as well as on the Crotale EDIR anti-air missiles. The French officials also praised the interoperability and flexibility of the MSR 1000 I systems.

According to the defence analysts, the compatibility of the system was one of its major advantages during the talks Cassidian held with the French military authorities. NATO had recently adopted new standards for interoperability, necessitating the member nations to check the compatibility of their defence equipment with that of the other members.