Jay Clemens
General Dynamics has received $20 million in additional contract funds from the U.S. Air Force to update cryptographic modules for the service branch’s Air Identification Friend or Foe system.
The company said Sept. 6 its mission systems unit will begin to deliver the updated AIFF Mode 4/5 KIV-78 combined interrogator/transponder applique to the Air Force in February next year.
The KIV-78, certified by the National Security Agency in March, works to help ships, ground forces and aircraft identify friendly aircraft within range in a tactical airspace.
The module will be updated to encrypt friend or foe transmissions to help pilots determine potential threats.
General Dynamics developed KIV-78 as part of the company’s IFF portfolio of embeddable cryptographic products.
