Which statement best describes a primary IFF function?

• A. It transmits position and identification to cooperating units and can interrogate others
• B. It transmits weather data
• C. It determines aircraft speed
• D. It provides autopilot commands

Answer: (A)

Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) is all about confirming who is who in the airspace. Its primary function is to provide identification data to friendly units so they can distinguish allies from potential threats. The transponder on an aircraft replies to interrogation signals from radar or other IFF-equipped systems with a coded identity, and that information helps cooperating units recognize each other quickly. Some IFF modes can include additional data like altitude, and the system can be used to query other units to obtain their identification as well, which enhances mutual recognition across the network. Weather data, speed indications, or autopilot commands aren’t part of IFF’s role, so they don’t describe what the system is designed to do.