Development of IR Identifier Patches.

To identify friend or foe in a Sub Con environment, IR tags/ patches/ identifiers were procured in the past by few IAF agencies. The IR tags were to be identified by the on board EOIR equipment of airborne assets to confirm as friend or foe.

• Although, the IR patches/ Tags/ Identifier were picked up by NVG devices, however, same could not be picked up by EOIR equipment of the aircraft during the sorties flown in base defence profile.
• The specifications of the equipment were studied and it was found that the EOIR equipment carried by the aircraft can only pick up IR signatures between 3 to 5 microns and was not compatible with the wavelength of the IR patches, which radiated at 0.850 micron wavelength.
• The tags available as on date offered by Indian vendors are not compatible with EOIR eqpt.
• There is a requirement to develop IR identifier patches which are in 3 to 5 microns or to provide a solution to overcome the issue.

Future Expectation from Prototype/ technology developed

IR Patch/Tags/ldentifier as an innovation cum development project once found suitable during practical demonstration shall be implemented all over IAF.