Identification friend-or-foe (IFF) sensor uncertainties, ambiguities, deception and their application to the multi-source fusion process

Abstract

The importance of quantifying and modeling sensor uncertainties associated with kinematic, attribute, and hybrid sensors and their effect on the data fusion process (Bayesian, Dempster-Shafer, etc.) has not been well described. This paper explores some of the characteristics and uncertainties associated with MK XII Identification Friend-or-Foe (IFF) including its limitations, inherent error sources, and robustness to jamming and interference. A general multi-source sensor fusion process is described using Non-Cooperative Target Recognition, electronic support measures and IFF dissimilar source inputs with specific attention placed on realizable IFF sensor systems and how they need to be characterized in order to understand and design an optimized and effective multi-source fusion process.