SAFE AND EFFECTIVE CLOSE AIR SUPPORT: LEVERAGING COTS PRODUCTS FOR MANEUVERABLE AERIAL IDENTIFICATION, FRIEND OR FOE

Although ground troops are equipped with identification, friend or foe (IFF) devices, many fratricide cases still occur during air-to-ground operations. When they are engaged in a firefight, ground troops seek cover and concealment, and consequently, their attached IFF devices are also covered and concealed. The situation is aggravated when firefights happen at night in vegetated areas, presenting additional challenges for air force pilots when conducting close air support (CAS) operations. Hence, ground troops need to be able to deploy a visual reference above the canopy of vegetation while they remain concealed physically. This research project explored how relatively inexpensive commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) technologies can be leveraged to construct a maneuverable aerial identification friend-or-foe (MAIFF) device. A systems engineering approach was employed to produce a prototype MAIFF using a sub-250 gram quadcopter drone mounted with infrared lights. In testing, its illumination lasted up to six hours. Although invisible to the naked eye, its illumination was visible up to one mile away with the use of a night vision device. A scenario-based test is recommended as a step toward MAIFF adoption by military organizations. Testing the MAIFF will determine whether it enhances situation awareness, reduces the occurrence of fratricide, and increases the lethality of CAS.CRUSER (Consortium for Robotics and Unmanned Systems Education and Research)Colonel, Philippine ArmyApproved for public release. Distribution is unlimited