AFRL Assists Development of Friendly Marking Devices Published March 13, 2008 By Robert Pearson AFRL/RY WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- Prompted by AFRL's initiation of a rapid reaction project, a team of systems engineering graduate students from the Air Force Institute of Technology succeeded in developing advanced friendly marking devices (FMD) that can be detected by an aircraft targeting pod. The Core Process 3ď€driven effort called for development and field test of an FMD detectable by means of targeting pod camera or laser spot tracker. The student team received technical assistance from AFRL sensors scientists in completing the effort, the results of which will enable forward air controllers/joint terminal attack controllers to provide accurate nonvisible reference marks that enable close air support assets to attack intended targets while avoiding fratricide. AFRL scientists assisted the student team in performing the systems engineering tests necessary for formulating several potential solutions. During subsequent demonstration and test of these solutions at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, the two AFRL-developed prototypes proved the most viable of the possible solutions. In response to these promising results, AFRL sensors scientists completed in-house development of an electrical FMD and also worked closely with Alloy Surfaces Company to create a special-material (SM) FMD visible from greater distances. While the SM FMD is now available commercially and will soon undergo field trial by Air Force users as well, the advanced FMD requires additional work to refine its design.