Turkish F-16s now able to hit Israeli planes

[Major Shaitan Singh]

Turkish F-16s now able to hit Israeli planes”: since when IFF can prevent a fighter from firing a missile?

Last week an article titled “Turkey F-16s can now hit Israel targets” made the news and spread quite quickly on the Internet.

According to the article, Turkey has developed a new IFF (Identification Friend or Foe) system for its F-16s that will allow them for the first time to fire at Israeli targets. Developed by Turkey’s Military Electronics Industry (ASELSAN) the new IFF will be mounted on all Turkish fighters (as well as military vessels and submarines) to replace the previous US version which “identified all Israeli targets as a “friend”, thus preventing the Turkish fighter jets from firing at them automatically, even if the Turkish pilots were ordered to fire at them.”

Considered as an ancestor of the RFID, the IFF was developed during World War II to identify friendly targets. Indeed, the acronym is improper, as the system can only identify friendly targets: if an IFF interrogation receives no reply or an invalid one, the target can’t be “declared” hostile.

IFF transponder systems are used by both military and civilian aircraft. Modern IFF have two-channels: one frequency is used for interrogating signals and another for the reply.

The interrogator’s coded signal consists of two pulses spaced at a precisely defined interval. The time interval between the two pulses, discriminated by the onboard transponder circuitry, determines the IFF Mode.

Modes 1, 2, 4 and 5 are used by military planes only whereas mode 3/A, C and S are used by both military and civilian planes. However, some military aircraft (for instance, the F-18E/F Super Hornet) have only Mode 1, 2, 3/A and C modes-capable IFF transponders with Mode 4 available only with specific upgrade fix.

Here’s a quick review of IFF transponders operative modes:

•Mode 1 provides a mission code (mil only)
•Mode 2 provides the “tail number” or unit code that identifies a particular aircraft (mil only)
•Mode 3/A – provides the ATC-assigned identification code for the aircraft (civ/mil)
•Mode 4 provides a reply to crypto coded challenge (mil only)
•Mode 5 provides the secured version of Mode S and ADS-B (mil only)
•Mode C provides the aircraft’s pressure altitude (civ/mil)
•Mode S provides multiple information formats to a selective interrogation (civ/mil)
Is the IFF linked to the missiles?

As said, the IFF enables quick identification of a friendly aircraft, but it is of little help when trying to identify hostile planes. It is not linked to the aircraft armament and (at least on the majority of the airplanes I know) it can’t prevent an interceptor from shooting at a “friendly” aircraft. This for one a simple reason: you can’t rule out the possibility that some hijacked civil (hence friendly) or military planes are used as weapons of mass destruction to attack a target. Therefore, you can’t rule out the possibility you will need to intercept and shoot down a so-called “renegade” flight with an air-to-air missile, one day.

Furthermore, IFF is automatically switched off when EMCON (Emission Control) is applied, hence, an adversary plane involved in an aggressive mission will likely have its IFF on stand-by….

“As far as I know, the IFF is not interconnected to the missile. The decision to fire and bring down a friendly plane it’s up to the pilot. At least, this is how our planes work” has explained to me an F-16 pilot I’ve inquired on this topic.

If anybody is able to shed some light on the Turkish F-16′s “IFF blockade

 

[Rafael]

^ Now we know why couldn't PAF react on May 2

 

[Saithan]

^ Now we know why couldn't PAF react on May 2

back in 2006-2007 two ASELSAN engineers were said to have committed suicide, but their families deny that they had any reason to suicide. Both engineers were said to be working on the IFF software. I can't be bothered to look up the article, but if you google it you will find something about it.

 

[Drawn_Sword_of_God]

thats why pakistan should stop going for US equipment, they will all have some crazy system like that

 

[PERSIAN GOD KING]

I heard turkey is going to make their own fighter jets, i think thats very important since usa will know about their f-16 and how to counter them.

 

[Saithan]

I heard turkey is going to make their own fighter jets, i think thats very important since usa will know about their f-16 and how to counter them.

It's a problem of course, but the way I see it is, that by diversifying your choices you can earn some knowhow on how other aircrafts work. Also, you will have a much easier time when the US senate decides that they don't like you. because you have other suppliers. I think it's best for the time being that Turkey joins in on an existing project, but on better terms than the F-35. I hope the South Koreans will agree.

Even though we have licens production right, some vital parts are still delivered from the US for the F-16, which is one way of ensuring an ally's friendliness.

 

[Archdemon]

Turkish F-16s now able to hit Israeli planes”: since when IFF can prevent a fighter from firing a missile?

Last week an article titled “Turkey F-16s can now hit Israel targets” made the news and spread quite quickly on the Internet.

According to the article, Turkey has developed a new IFF (Identification Friend or Foe) system for its F-16s that will allow them for the first time to fire at Israeli targets. Developed by Turkey’s Military Electronics Industry (ASELSAN) the new IFF will be mounted on all Turkish fighters (as well as military vessels and submarines) to replace the previous US version which “identified all Israeli targets as a “friend”, thus preventing the Turkish fighter jets from firing at them automatically, even if the Turkish pilots were ordered to fire at them.”

Considered as an ancestor of the RFID, the IFF was developed during World War II to identify friendly targets. Indeed, the acronym is improper, as the system can only identify friendly targets: if an IFF interrogation receives no reply or an invalid one, the target can’t be “declared” hostile.

IFF transponder systems are used by both military and civilian aircraft. Modern IFF have two-channels: one frequency is used for interrogating signals and another for the reply.

The interrogator’s coded signal consists of two pulses spaced at a precisely defined interval. The time interval between the two pulses, discriminated by the onboard transponder circuitry, determines the IFF Mode.

Modes 1, 2, 4 and 5 are used by military planes only whereas mode 3/A, C and S are used by both military and civilian planes. However, some military aircraft (for instance, the F-18E/F Super Hornet) have only Mode 1, 2, 3/A and C modes-capable IFF transponders with Mode 4 available only with specific upgrade fix.

Here’s a quick review of IFF transponders operative modes:

•Mode 1 provides a mission code (mil only)
•Mode 2 provides the “tail number” or unit code that identifies a particular aircraft (mil only)
•Mode 3/A – provides the ATC-assigned identification code for the aircraft (civ/mil)
•Mode 4 provides a reply to crypto coded challenge (mil only)
•Mode 5 provides the secured version of Mode S and ADS-B (mil only)
•Mode C provides the aircraft’s pressure altitude (civ/mil)
•Mode S provides multiple information formats to a selective interrogation (civ/mil)
Is the IFF linked to the missiles?

As said, the IFF enables quick identification of a friendly aircraft, but it is of little help when trying to identify hostile planes. It is not linked to the aircraft armament and (at least on the majority of the airplanes I know) it can’t prevent an interceptor from shooting at a “friendly” aircraft. This for one a simple reason: you can’t rule out the possibility that some hijacked civil (hence friendly) or military planes are used as weapons of mass destruction to attack a target. Therefore, you can’t rule out the possibility you will need to intercept and shoot down a so-called “renegade” flight with an air-to-air missile, one day.

Furthermore, IFF is automatically switched off when EMCON (Emission Control) is applied, hence, an adversary plane involved in an aggressive mission will likely have its IFF on stand-by….

“As far as I know, the IFF is not interconnected to the missile. The decision to fire and bring down a friendly plane it’s up to the pilot. At least, this is how our planes work” has explained to me an F-16 pilot I’ve inquired on this topic.

If anybody is able to shed some light on the Turkish F-16′s “IFF blockade

Well here is the problem, even IFF are altered Turkey is still cannot hit Israeli planes, because IAF is superior to TuAF

 

[A.Muqeet khan]

Well here is the problem, even IFF are altered Turkey is still cannot hit Israeli planes, because IAF is superior to TuAF

sir i hope you are having a great day i know the capabilities of iaf ok so yes thats an other story but you know that this post of your has the capability of makingthis thread a hell of a flame thread so please dont post these type of post

 

[AZADPAKISTAN2009]

Well a positive move for a Sovereign nation perhaps not to be looked in context against Israel perhaps to any agressor

Last time I checked Israel and Turkey do have diplomatic relations few tense months but alliance is still in tact

 

[Quasar]

Well a positive move for a Sovereign nation perhaps not to be looked in context against Israel perhaps to any agressor

Last time I checked Israel and Turkey do have diplomatic relations few tense months but alliance is still in tact

we have no problem with any nation therefore keeping diplomatic relations on a "symbolic level" is a civilized gesture and in line with our historical state traditions! but we may have problems with people who govern them! you say alliance is still in tact?! care to provide any evidence to prove your argument!

 

[monitor]

think now Pakistan should to do the same the help of Turkish firm to have a turkish IFF system onboard Pakistani F-16 .

 

[500]

If anybody is able to shed some light on the Turkish F-16′s “IFF blockade

Erdogan pretends, that he is fighting Israel.

 

[Saithan]

It is every sovereign nations right to decide for themselves who're friends or not, however it is a fact that the hardware you buy from US comes with certain preconditions, such as the IFF treating Israelis as friends, which effectively restricts the countries buying them. However developing a new

IFF means that you take back the right to decide for yourself.

 

[500]

This brave man already makes Israeli wet pant. time to abandon Israeli bastard

He promised to send excorting warships. Chickened.
He promised to come to Gaza. Chickened.
He promised to cut all trade with Israel. Chickened.
He canseled second Mavi Marmara sail.
He also theratened Syria, Iran and Cyrpus, all with zero results.

Seems the only one who gets his pants wet because of him is you.

 

[ashokdeiva]

This brave man already makes Israeli wet pant. time to abandon Israeli bastard

Do not use un-parlimentary words, Post reported