Sub-munitions with Identification Friend or Foe Capability

To prevent fratercides in today's congested battlefield, there is a critical need for positive methods of identifying friend-or-foe. The Army initiative for the Battlefield Combat Identification System (BCIS) addresses the need for pre-launch IFF. With deployment of smart muntions and long-range guns, there is an increasing need to provide post-launch IFF capabilities on-board munitions. This proposal describes an advanced concept of identifying co-operative targets capable of both pre-launch and post-launch applications. The proposed concept is based on the use of low-cost miniature microwave transponder (i.e. ID tag) that can be interrogated from the firng position and/or from munitions in flight. Both the transponder and the interrogator will be build in MMIC chips for low cost and small size. The proposed interrogation and response system, with electronically programmed encryption, is immune to jamming, decoding, or false target detection. The interrogator function on munitions may be built into a transmitter available on board. The interrogator may be integrated with the proximity fuze available on board. The interrogator may be integrated with the proximity fuze transmitter, for example, for pre-fuzing or dudding when a friendly target is detected. The transponder, built in a miniature pakcage using MMIC chips, can be ahnd-carried or mounted on any combat vehicle.