Leonardo, Hensoldt awarded $323 million U.K. IFF contract
June 22 (UPI) -- Leonardo and Hensoldt have received a joint $ 323 million contract from the British Ministry of Defense for upgrading Identification Friend or Foe systems.Leonardo and Hensoldt will be partnering on the program as "Team Skytale." The contract covers IFF upgrades fo 31 different vehicles used by the UK, including land, air, and sea platforms.The upgrade will convert the IFF systems of over 350 aircraft, ships, and ground-based air defense systems to the Mode 5 standard. All NATO nations are required to switch to the Mode 5 by 2020.The UK conversion will use Leonardo's M428 Transponder and SIT 2010 cryptographic computer, alongside Hensoldt's MSSR 2000 I and MSSR 1000 I interrogators.ILeonardo has already installed Mode 5 IFF systems on Britain's Eurofighter Typhoons and Que...