Secure and programmable friendly target recognition system

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a friendly target recognition system that minimizes the amount of required communication between a targeting device and a friendly target.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a friendly target recognition system that is not subject to enemy duplication.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a friendly target recognition system that may be easily modified to prevent enemy use of the system should any of the systems be confiscated by the enemy.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a friendly target recognition system that is adaptable to both aircraft and land based equipment.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more obvious hereinafter in the specification and drawings.
In accordance with the present invention, a friendly target recognition system is provided for use in a combat zone having friendly and unfriendly target objects residing therein.
The system may be utilized by a targeting device to recognize a friendly target object during the targeting thereof.
In particular, transmitting means are mounted on each friendly target object in the combat zone.
Each transmitting means transmits radiation in the form of coded, short burst data packets according to a particular digital transmission code sequence.
A receiving means is mounted on the targeting device and aimed at one targeted object.
The receiving means has a field-of-view that is limited to the one targeted object such that the presence of the transmitted radiation according to the particular digital transmission code sequence is indicative of a friendly target object.