A new small-sized transponder for identifying drones, presented at the Electronics of Russia exhibition by the Ruselectronics holding, is capable of revolutionizing the unmanned aerial vehicle industry. The device, developed by NPP Pulsar, operates on the “friend or foe” principle and automatically marks friendly UAVs at an altitude of up to 5 km and a distance of up to 100 km from the radio interrogator.
One of the key features of the innovative miniature device is its ability to work with the Russian Password identification system. Such devices are widely used in aviation to identify differences between their own equipment and that of the enemy. With the development of unmanned aircraft systems and the presence of a large number of them in the zone of a special military operation, there is a need for devices that can determine the identity of the UAV.
The identification device is designed taking into account the requirements for mobility and versatility. It is lightweight, not exceeding 150 grams, and low power consumption of 100 mV allow the device to be integrated into a wide range of civil and special-purpose drones, such as reconnaissance ones. This opens up new opportunities for the use of drones on the battlefield, where they serve as fire spotters, as well as surveillance and fire weapons.
General Director of NPP Pulsar Sergei Borovoy emphasized the importance of such identifications in modern conflicts, where both sides often use the same models of drones. This makes their visual identification difficult – often in the reports of Russian military officers, soldiers on the front line notice that they hear a drone, but it is impossible to understand whether it is one of their own or someone else’s.
The use of a new identifier will make it possible to reliably distinguish the identity of a UAV, which will increase the efficiency and safety of the actions of Russian units.
The equipment works with equipment using the Russian “Password” identification system – the state system of ‘friend or foe’ radar identification written about in February 2015, in “Rossiyskaya Gazeta” by the general designer of the system Ildusa Mostyukov, whose activities were kept secret for many years.
The ‘friend or foe’ identification system originated during the Second World War. It first appeared among the US and British troops, where losses from friendly fire amounted to 20-25%. Following them, a similar system was developed in the USSR, the publication wrote.
Russia had to start work almost from scratch. It was impossible to rely on global experience in this area. This equipment will be in service for a very long time. It cannot be deciphered. Airplanes with the “Password” system fell into the hands of a potential enemy many times, but this no longer mattered. There were no “filled” codes in the equipment. Thousands of their variants change every second according to a random law.
Only two countries in the world could afford such developments – the USA and the USSR. The cost of the system is so enormous that not every country can afford it. The search for money for the Russian project was personally carried out by the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the USSR Alexey Kosygin. The development cost about $5 billion.
Military tests took place in 1980. If they had been a little late, the system would not have seen the light of day, because the factories collapsed, and the country would not have been able to afford to spend that kind of money in the 90s.
Top Photo: Military Review
Sources: Aviation21; RussiaPosts English;