Saab has awarded Thales a contract to supply new IFF, Combined Interrogator-Transponders (CITs) for its JAS 39 Gripen combat aircraft and to upgrade existing IFF equipment on other Gripen aircraft.

The contract covers a total of 143 aircrafts. 68 Swedish Air Force Gripens will be equipped with NATO Mode 4 Combined Interrogator-Transponders that incorporate the latest version of the IFF standard. A further 75 Gripens in service with the Swedish Air Force, Hungarian Air Force and Czech Republic Air Force with existing CITs will be upgraded to Mode 4 and Mode S capability to ensure compliance with the latest version of the standard

Once equipped, the aircraft will be ready for the transition to the new NATO Mode 5 IFF standard secure IFF capability.

The Combined Interrogator-Transponder included in this contract is the version designed for radars with mechanical scan antenna.

These Thales IFF units are part of the TSA/TSB 2500 family of Interrogators and Combined Interrogator-Transponders that equip numerous platform types in countries around the world like Rafale, Mirage 2000, Mirage F1, Gripen, SU-30, CN-235, EMB-145, frigates, corvettes and offshore patrol vessels.

To date, Thales has supplied over 16,000 IFF units for more than 100 air, land and naval platform types around the world.