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Only half of Dutch F-16s to get Mode 5 IFF system installed
October 5, 2007 (by
Lieven Dewitte) -
Defence State Secretary Cees van der Knaap plans to equip only 36 of the F-16s with Mode 5 IFF as it is too expensive to install the identification system in all Dutch F-16s.
The Netherlands has 72 F-16 fighter aircraft available for NATO missions. It is operationally desirable to equip all of these with the new Mode 5 Identification, Friend, or Foe (IFF) recognition system that NATO wants to introduce in 2012, according to the state secretary. However, it is not cost-effective, because part of the F-16 fleet is expected to be replaced in 2015. This is why he only wants to equip half the fleet with the system, he said in a letter to parliament.
The Mark XII IFF System is a cooperative question and answer friend identification system that has been operational since the 1960's. The Mark XIIA Mode 5 is an improvement to the aging Mark XII that uses modern modulation, coding, and cryptographic techniques to overcome performance and security problems in the current Mark XII waveform. Additionally, Mark XIIA Mode 5 offers expanded data handling capable of passing GPS position and other extended data.
The Dutch cabinet already announced earlier that it wants to cut the F-16 fleet to 87, including 15 for exercises and training.
In 2010, the cabinet will make a decision on purchasing the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), intended to replace the F-16. In fact, the possibility of the cabinet eventually deciding to order different fighter aircraft can still not be ruled out, suggests Van der Knaap, although insiders deem this unlikely.
The Mark XII IFF System is a cooperative question and answer friend identification system that has been operational since the 1960's. The Mark XIIA Mode 5 is an improvement to the aging Mark XII that uses modern modulation, coding, and cryptographic techniques to overcome performance and security problems in the current Mark XII waveform. Additionally, Mark XIIA Mode 5 offers expanded data handling capable of passing GPS position and other extended data.
The Dutch cabinet already announced earlier that it wants to cut the F-16 fleet to 87, including 15 for exercises and training.
In 2010, the cabinet will make a decision on purchasing the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), intended to replace the F-16. In fact, the possibility of the cabinet eventually deciding to order different fighter aircraft can still not be ruled out, suggests Van der Knaap, although insiders deem this unlikely.
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