The system automatically marks friendly drones at an altitude up to 5 km and a distance up to 100 km from the interrogator

Photo: Rostec State Corporation

Rosel holding started testing of a drone identification system. The system uses the friend-or-foe principle and marks friendly drones automatically at an altitude up to 5 km and a distance up to 100 km from the interrogator. Production of a pilot batch is to be started in 2025. 

A radar identifier installed inside the drone is the key component of the new system. At the first stage, the system will use stations that employ the Russian friend-or-foe identification system. Such instruments are used, for example, in aviation to distinguish friendly vehicles from enemy’s vehicles. 

The transponder features light weight — maximum 90 g — and low power consumption. This allows the product to be integrated into a wide range of civilian and special-purpose drones, including agricultural or geodetic quadcopters. One of the identifier prototypes undergoes testing on the Geodeziya-401 drone made by Geoskan. This equipment is designed for aerial survey in urban conditions and in quarries.