The Russian Air Force’s IFF System: Navigating the Challenges of Identification in Modern Warfare

The Russian Air Force has been grappling with significant challenges related to its Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) system. This system is a critical component of military aviation, enabling forces to distinguish between friendly and enemy aircraft. The effectiveness of an IFF system has direct implications on operational security and the prevention of friendly fire incidents.

Historical Context

Historically, the Soviet-era IFF (Identification Friend or Foe) systems have been a point of concern. The legacy systems, such as Kremnij and Parol, lacked robust encryption and were susceptible to spoofing, leading to vulnerabilities that adversaries could exploit. The defection of Lieutenant Viktor Belenko in 1976, who flew a MiG-25P containing the Kremnij IFF system to Japan, exposed the weaknesses of the Soviet IFF technology to the West.

The Kremnij and Parol systems were part of a broader set of military technologies that relied on coded radar signals for identification purposes. These systems, known as Cross-Band Interrogation (CBI), were designed to automatically trigger an aircraft’s transponder when illuminated by radar. However, the technology of that era was limited in its security features, making it relatively easy for the signals to be decoded or imitated by hostile forces.

Kremnij-2, for instance, was a Soviet system for IFF that likely originated in the 1950s. It required an interrogating station’s signal to be answered with the correct code, which had only 12 possibilities modulated to the response signal. This simplicity in design made it easier for adversaries to decipher or simulate the codes, thus raising the risk of misidentification.

Challenges and Implications

Despite advancements in technology, the Russian Air Force continues to face significant challenges with its IFF (Identification Friend or Foe) systems. Instances of friendly fire, where Russian anti-air systems have mistakenly shot down their own aircraft, have been reported.

The technological shortcomings of the current IFF systems, which still rely on outdated electronics and avionics, pose a significant hurdle. Sanctions have further complicated Russia’s ability to upgrade its military technology, leaving its air force with operational limitations. The performance of the Russian Air Force in Ukraine has raised questions about its capability to conduct complex air operations, with reports suggesting an inability to establish air superiority or deploy significant combat power in support of ground forces.

One of the greatest surprises from the initial phase of the Russian invasion of Ukraine was the inability of the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS) fighter and fighter-bomber fleets to establish air superiority, or to deploy significant combat power in support of the under-performing Russian ground forces. The VKS’s air doctrine, which differs from NATO’s, treats military aviation as mere ‘flying artillery’, and this approach may have contributed to the reported issues with IFF systems and the overall effectiveness of air operations.

In recent years, Russia has heavily invested in technological improvements, such as Active Electronically Scanned Array radars, long-range air-to-air missiles, high maneuverability, and some stealth capabilities. However, the continued absence of major air operations raises serious capability questions. The lack of precision-guided munitions and limited numbers of pilots with the requisite expertise to conduct precise strikes in support of initial ground operations due to low average VKS flying hours are factors that remain relevant.

As the Russian ground offensive struggles to make headway in Ukraine, and heavy vehicle and personnel losses continue to be inflicted by Ukrainian forces, the lack of Russian air activity requires a serious explanation. The new IFF system developed by Russia, which is still being tested, has not yet been witnessed in action, and only practice will show if it proves effective on the battlefield. This situation underscores the importance of a reliable IFF system that can operate efficiently in complex tactical situations and modern conditions of electronic warfare.