Russian companies to produce individual soldier IFF sensor systems

MOSCOW, July 7 (UPI) -- Russian companies are working to produce individually worn identification-friend-or-foe sensor systems for the country's military by 2017.

Rostec, a Russian state corporation, said the tactical sensors by six companies are part of a government project under the auspices of Concern Radio-Electronic Technologies, or KRET. The project also includes IFF sensors for the air force and navy.

"Today, conflicts often have a local character, with weapons used by different parties developed in the same country," said Andrei Tiulin, the KRET deputy chief executive officer for strategic planning and implementation of state defense orders. "In this situation, a typical identification system will not work. The military came to the conclusion that their operational use needed to be further developed."

The IFF sensors will be produced in the Russian republic of Tartarstan.

Two businesses in Kazan, the capital of Tartarstan -- Radio-electronic Scientific Production Association and the Radiopribor factory -- will be combined as part of the cluster of companies who have joined the collaborative effort, Rostec said.

"By 2020, the cluster (of companies) is expected to produce $18 billion in revenue, a fifth of which will be the result of the new identification system," said Tiulin. "Such systems provide the necessary know-how for civil production, such as identification systems for transport and energy markets."

"Currently, six enterprises are engaged in the project, but we hope to open private businesses that will work on the equipment in three shifts, thus reducing production costs."