NATO has awarded Turkish defense company Aselsan a three‑year contract to supply Identification-Friend-or-Foe (IFF) interrogator systems for man‑portable air defense systems (MANPADS).
This move aims to boost the alliance’s ability to distinguish allied aircraft from hostile threats.
Under the framework deal from the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA), Aselsan will deliver Mode‑5 capable IFF systems designed to be integrated with shoulder‑fired air defense weapons, according to a report by Anadolu Agency.
These systems play a critical role in reducing the risk of misidentification in complex airspace environments, enabling NATO forces to operate MANPADS with greater confidence while deterring increasingly advanced aerial threats.
The agreement, valid for three years, ensures steady delivery and support of IFF hardware across NATO member states.
Boosting NATO’s Air Defense
Aselsan’s contract complements ongoing investments by NATO allies in air defense technology.
Germany, the Netherlands, Romania, and Spain procured Patriot missiles through NSPA to strengthen coalition defenses.
NATO also awarded Raytheon a $478-million contract to deliver Patriot GEM-T missiles to Germany, financed in part by Denmark, Norway, and the Netherlands.
Elsewhere in Europe, Poland has achieved full operational capability with its WISŁA medium-range air defense system, integrating Patriot components into NATO-aligned networks.
Italy has also deployed its SAMP/T long-range systems in Lithuania as part of NATO’s Baltic air defense reinforcement.
