HL Deb 30 January 1995 vol 560 cc99-100WA
Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the elderly "Identification Friend or Foe" system currently in use in British and NATO forces was developed in the 1950's; whether internationally agreed replacement systems have been cancelled before the product was delivered, and, if so, for what reasons other than financial reasons were they cancelled.

Lord Henley

I can confirm that the "identification Friend or Foe" system currently in use in British and NATO forces was developed in the 1950s. Plans for an internationally agreed replacement system were cancelled in 1991 prior to the system's development phase in light of concerns over its affordability and technical risk. We continue to explore the options for improvements in current IFF systems. A key requirement, for any such system is interoperability with our major allies and progress cannot, therefore, be made on a purely national basis.