FARNBOROUGH, England — A Leonardo-Airbus team has been downselected to equip the British military with the latest Mode 5 Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) capability, according to Mauro Moretti, the CEO of the Italian firm Leonardo-Finmeccanica.
The exact value of the deal has not been released yet but Moretti told reporters attending a company briefing on the opening day of the Farnborough air show on July 11 that it could be worth "hundreds of million of euros."
Leonardo-Finmeccanica is expected to formally announce its selection this week.
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Company officials said beating the rival Raytheon/Thales team to a deal to introduce Mode 5 IFF across land, sea and air platforms was a "big win."
The two teams had previously been working on a one-year assessment phase for the British Ministry of Defence (MoD). It's the second time in quick succession Leonardo-Finmeccanica has beaten Raytheon and Thales to MoD selection.
The Leonardo-Airbus team has supplied IFF systems to the British previously, including Typhoon fighters. But their rivals are generally seen as the incumbent provider of equipment here.
Adoption of Mode 5 is part of a NATO-wide requirement to introduce a new generation of IFF systems over the next few years.
Andrew Chuter is the United Kingdom correspondent for Defense News.
Tom Kington is the Italy correspondent for Defense News.