NATO has awarded Turkish defense firm Aselsan a three-year contract to supply Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) interrogator systems for man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS).
The contract is intended to enhance the alliance’s ability to reliably distinguish friendly aircraft from hostile aerial threats. Under a framework agreement managed by the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA), Aselsan will deliver Mode 5–capable IFF interrogators designed for integration with shoulder-fired air defense weapons, according to Anadolu Agency.
These systems are critical for reducing the risk of misidentification in congested airspace, allowing NATO forces to operate MANPADS with greater assurance while countering increasingly sophisticated aerial threats. The three-year agreement provides for sustained delivery and lifecycle support of IFF equipment across NATO member nations.
The award aligns with broader NATO investments in strengthening air defense capabilities. In parallel, Germany, the Netherlands, Romania, and Spain have procured Patriot missile systems through NSPA, while NATO has also awarded Raytheon a $478 million contract to supply Patriot GEM-T missiles to Germany, co-financed by Denmark, Norway, and the Netherlands.
Elsewhere, Poland has achieved full operational capability with its WISŁA medium-range air defense system, integrating Patriot components into NATO’s air defense network. Italy has also deployed SAMP/T long-range air defense systems to Lithuania as part of NATO’s Baltic air defense reinforcement.
