Professional Documents
Culture Documents
http://www.mil-airfields.de/equipment/soviet-russian-iff-kremnij-parol.htm
Below I have summarized my research and knowledge about the soviet/russian IFF systems “Kremnij”
and “Parol”. The information originates from various sources, all of which are given below (see /1/, /2/
etc.). Since the sources go into detail at different topics and are difficult to access for technical and
language reasons, I compiled all the important information for a basic understanding here.
Kremnij-2 / Кремний-2
Overview
Kremnij-2 is an IFF system which was probably developed in the 1950s. The signal of an interrogating
station must be answered with the correct code. For the code, there are 12 possibilities that are
modulated to the response signal. The security of the system is based on the secrecy of the then valid
code that was changed in hours.
There are three interrogation modes in which the interrogation signal is sent on one or two
frequencies. When making an interrogation on two frequencies, the signal of the primary radar is
jointly used, to which the IFF system is coupled.
The frequency range II was put out of service by the East German forces in the early 1980s /12/
I assume that „Interrogation 3“ is the so-called "Autonomous Interrogation", because it can also be
used independently of a primary radar (although the synchronization with the primary radar is still
needed to ensure a consistent presentation).
On the screen, a target with IFF is shown by a parallel bar on the far side /1/, /3/, /8/
It seems that there was a change over time: /3/ specifies 36 possible codes, which consist of only 6
different frequencies, but with 6 additional combinations for the time positions T1 and T2 of two
following response codes:
In /11/ there is a hint that also indicates a variable timing of the response code: This manual states
“numbers of the pulse intervals”.
Check Code
(Other names: Kremnij-2M /2/, 81Э or 81Ä, Interrogation K, Additional Code)
The response signal of the system Kremnij-2 can easily be imitated by an enemy, because there are
only 12 different codes. Therefore, the possibility of a check code / additional code was introduced (in
the East German forces in the early to mid 1980's /12/) The reaction to the check code interrogation
must by activated manually at the transponder (e.g. by the pilot of the aircraft), triggered by a code
word sent over the radio. When the check code is interrogated by an additional fourth pulse, an
activated transponder recognizes this pulse and doesn't send a response. Only the imitation units of
the enemy continue to answer and are still shown on the screen with an IFF signal.
Using the check code was only allowed when it was ordered /10/, presumably to keep the system
secret until war time.
Veterans say that the check code in planes could be turned on and off, but without additional coding /
4/ /5/. Perhaps this has changed over time: /11/ from the year 1990 says "changing code of the check
code of aircraft" and directs to use code no. 0 for the check code until different order.
In clear contradiction is a statement in /3/: It describes that the individual identification has only one
additional pulse that follows the general identification. This additional pulse can have two positions in
time, so there are two possible codes.
This signal seems to correspond more to the SPI ("ident") of the civilian secondary radar.
Distress Signal
For the distress signal, the frequency-coded signal of the general identification is repeated. Therefore,
the distress signal is bound to the correct setting of the code frequency, i.e. when the code is set
incorrectly, the distress signal is not shown on the radar screen.
A target with distress signal is shown on the screen with a bold bar /3/, /8/
Parol / Пароль
Overview
Parol is the successor system to Kremnij-2. Using cryptographic methods, a much better imitation
security is achieved. In the late 1980s, introduction to the East German forces began.
For compatibility reasons, many Parol ground systems still support Kremnij in the frequency range III.
A new addition is the frequency range VII:
- 1532 Mcs: Interrogation
- 1470 Mcs: Response
- 1458 Mcs: Response
So in this range, two response frequencies are used /2/
The interrogation is done with three pulses and a further pulse for side lobe suppression. Pulse
diagram of the interrogation according to /3/:
The transponder can reply with 6 different codes. The response consists of two pulses, one on each
of the response frequencies. The code is determined by the time interval T between the pulses and by
the response frequency fB or fC on which the first pulse is sent /3/
On the screen, a target with identification is shown with a parallel bar /3/, /8/
The response consists of two pulses. The 16 possible response codes are formed by the time interval
T between the two pulses (8 possibilities) and by the response frequency fB or fC on which the first
pulse is sent (2 possibilities). /3/
A target with guaranteed identification is displayed on the screen with a bar parallels with hook. /3/, /8/
Individual Identification (mode III in the frequency range VII), Distress and Alarm
According to /3/, the individual identification and distress are marked by a third pulse in the response
signal. In contrast, /11/ is saying that the individual identification is defined by a three-digit code.
A ground station can receive the distress signal as an alarm signal and display it with a lamp on the
control panel, even if they do not make own interrogations /3/, /8/. The ground stations then have to
scan their sector for the target /11/.
Overviews
Frequency ranges:
Document 2: Navy
• Radar IFF
• Hydroacoustical IFF
• Visual IFF
• Radio IFF
• Secrecy regulations when using IFF
installations
• Accounting of IFF installations
• Storage of codes and filters and of IFF devices
• Scheduled preventive maintenance and repair
In preparation, coming soon! • Discarding IFF installations
Get your free preview!
• Dealing with the explosive devices of IFF
systems
• Identification with civilian ships
+ Bonus Material
Former secret documents in facsimile, with english
translations
Sources
Important: I visited all of the websites below. Two sites look a little bit questionable, so I'm not sure
about security. Please use common sense when visiting unknown websites or retrieving material and
follow basic rules: always use a fully patched and updated operating system, a patched browser
(browser, plugins), defensive security settings, an updated virus scanner and never surf as
administrator. And if in doubt, I prefer to use a live Linux system.
/1/ http://www.radioscanner.ru/files/systems/file6947/
Description of SRO-2 und SRZO-2 in russian language, in djvu format
/2/ http://forum.vardanank.org/
Наземный Радиолокационный Запросчик НРЗ-4П «Пароль»: Excerpt from training material for the
NRZ-4P (russian language)
Armenian forum, registration required.
/3/ http://5ka.su/ref/war/0_object3060.htmls
НАЗЕМНЫЙ РАДИОЛОКАЦИОННИЙ ЗАПРОСЧИК IЛ24: Study about the interrogation unit 1L24
(russian language)
/4/ www.flugzeugforum.de
Thread: Einsatz bei NVA-LSK, Freund Feind Kennung (german language)
/5/ www.nva-forum.de
Thread: Luftraumüberwachung, Nutzung Kennungsgeräte (german language)
/6/ http://www.studfiles.ru/dir/cat20/subj241/file8670/view92366.html
Шпоры по военке 4 курс VII семестр: Study which includes a description of the system Parol
(russian language)
/7/ www.radartutorial.eu
Extensive website about radar systems, describes Parol systems and the general principles of side
lobe suppression (german and english language)
/8/ www.rwd-mb3.de
Website about the missile and weapons service within the commander MB III of the East German
forces; also includes descriptions of Kremnij and Parol systems (german language)
/9/ http://nva-flieger.de/ffm.html
IFF at NVA-Flieger.de (german language)
/12/ Eckard Schlenker, Ullrich Mattisseck: „Wer ist hier Freund, und wer ist Feind“ Fliegerrevue 10/92
(german language)