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Russia Integrates Identification Friend-or-Foe Technology Into Battlefield Drones
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![Ivan_khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
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Russia has launched tests of a new Identification-Friend-or-Foe (IFF) system designed for drones, according to a statement by the state-owned holding company Rosel on April 22, which operates under the umbrella of the Russian defense conglomerate Rostec.
The system enables automatic identification of friendly unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) within a 100-kilometer radius and at altitudes up to five kilometers. The technology is intended to enhance coordination between drones and manned aircraft in Russian airspace.
A key component of the system is a radar-based identifier installed directly on the drone. It communicates with ground stations using Russia’s national IFF protocol—similar to systems used in tactical aviation.
According to Rostec, the identifier weighs less than 90 grams and consumes minimal power, making it suitable for integration across a wide range of drones, including civilian, agricultural, and geodetic models.
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One prototype is currently being tested on the “Geodeziya-401,” an industrial drone used for aerial surveying. However, Russian officials indicate that the technology may also be deployed on military reconnaissance UAVs.
Earlier, Ukraine began developing its own Identification-Friend-or-Foe technology for drones, known as UA Drone ID. The system was designed to minimize friendly fire incidents, improve the survivability of Ukrainian UAVs, and enhance mission analysis.
UA Drone ID operates within the DELTA military ecosystem, which includes tools such as a secure battlefield messenger, live streaming capabilities, a digital map, and mission planning interfaces.
The technology was jointly developed by the Ministry of Defense Innovation Center, the NGO Aerorozvidka, and the cybersecurity company CossackLabs. According to Digital Transformation Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, UA Drone ID has already been tested in combat conditions with strike drones and demonstrated increased operational safety and effectiveness.
A memorandum on further development of the technology has been signed between the Ministry of Digital Transformation, the Ministry of Defense, and the developers, with NATO members also briefed on the system’s capabilities.
