"System Failure Is Blamed In U.S. Downing Of British Jet"

In message , fudog50
writes
I have worked at det sites with the RAF, they are incredible,
top notch. However,in my opinion and experience they are willing to
accept a little more risk than we normally do. The question is: Was
there an adequate, reliable and accurate check of the Tornadoe's IFF
system before it left the deck?

From the accident report:-

"The ground engineering check on ZG710’s encrypted Mode 4 IFF was
completed satisfactorily pre-engine start, and an RAF Regiment Rapier
Missile unit that regularly checked the IFF of departing aircraft did
not report the aircraft or log a fault. In line with extant procedures,
only Mode 4 was checked on the ground. However, there is no firm
evidence that ZG710 responded to any IFF interrogations throughout the
entire mission, although there is evidence that the navigator checked
the IFF switches at the appropriate times."

--
When you have to kill a man, it costs nothing to be polite.
W S Churchill

Paul J. Adam MainBoxatjrwlynch[dot]demon{dot}co(.)uk