ACS Unveils Optical Friend-or-Foe ID for Drones

Allen Control Systems (ACS) has unveiled a secure optical ID system that identifies friendly drones without using jam-prone radio signals.

Known as the Friend and Foe Operating System (FAFOS), the platform authenticates unmanned systems through encrypted near-infrared optical pulses instead of traditional RF transponders. 

The process takes less than 200 milliseconds and works at distances of up to two kilometers (1.2 miles). This allows drones to confirm other drones’ identities or receive secure commands like “return to base” even in GPS- or comms-denied environments.

ACS said the system is designed for modern battlefields saturated with drones, where radio-based identification friend-or-foe (IFF) systems can be jammed, spoofed, or intercepted. 

“The rapid identification of friend or foe in signal-contested environments and the potential for a catastrophic failure is one of the most urgent and complex challenges we currently face,” Mike Wior, the company’s CEO, said.

Growing Focus on Secure Drone Identification

Militaries are increasingly investing in next-generation IFF technologies to reduce fratricide and confusion over drone-heavy battlefields.

Just this year, the US Navy awarded BAE Systems a $30-million contract to modernize the AN/APX-123A(V) Common Transponder, a core IFF device used across aircraft, drones, and ships.

In 2024, Spain’s Indra Sistemas secured a contract to equip its ground-based air defense network with NATO-standard Mode 5/S IFF technology. 

Meanwhile, Russia is reportedly developing an IFF system tailored for its drone forces, aiming to embed cryptographic identity layers in its unmanned platforms to prevent friendly-fire in contested zones.