Nine fixed-wing aircraft and three helicopters equipped with a variety of experimental combat identification systems took part in a major exercise in the UK in late September to assess the maturity of technologies intended to prevent “friendly fire” incidents involving air and ground forces.
Conducted at the Salisbury Plain training area, the multinational exercise Urgent Quest was sponsored by NATO and the US Joint Forces Command and involved 130 combat identification systems from five countries.
The trial also involved 94 combat vehicles and 800 military personnel and 200 civilian support staff from nine nations.
The UK contributed a BAE Systems Harrier GR7 from the Royal Air Force’s Fast Jet and Weapons Operational Evaluation Unit carrying a Thales-supplied millimetre-wave “question and answer” combat identification device in a converted Vinten Vicon 18 reconnaissance pod.
TIM RIPLEY/LONDON
Source: Flight International
