Thales has recently been contracted by Lockheed Martin Canada for supplying IFF (Identification Friend or Foe) interrogators and transponders for the six Arctic Offshore Patrol Ships (A/OPS) for the Royal Canadian Navy.

The Long Range IFF interrogator will enable A/OPS to identify friendly aircraft and to ensure 360° cooperative civilian and military aircraft surveillance.

The contract won by Thales is based on the latest version of the BlueGate Long Range IFF interrogator products and new miniaturized transponder. It is fully compliant with the latest version of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) civilian standards and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) / US Department of Defense (DoD) military standards.
By fulfilling the latest standards, the Arctic Offshore Patrol Ships will be able to make surveillance without any restriction, in particular to on shore Civilian Secondary Surveillance Radars.

Thales has supplied over 19,000 IFF units for more than 100 types of aircraft, vehicles and naval vessels worldwide.