Which system was introduced to differentiate between friendly and enemy forces during warfare?

The Secondary Surveillance Radar system was specifically designed to provide a means of identifying friendly and enemy forces during warfare. This system enhances situational awareness by using transponders that communicate with radar to send back identifying information about an aircraft, including its identification, altitude, and other pertinent data. By integrating the responses from the transponders with the radar signals, operators can distinguish between friendly units and potential threats, which is crucial in combat scenarios where quick and accurate identification can impact operational decisions.

This capability significantly improves the effectiveness of military operations by minimizing the risks of friendly fire and enabling better coordination among forces. The transponder response allows for a more dynamic and informed operational picture, which is vital in fast-paced combat situations.

The other systems mentioned do not have the same level of identification capability; Primary Surveillance Radar primarily detects and tracks objects but lacks the interactive identification features. The Naval Tracking System may involve different technologies but is not specifically designed for differentiation purposes like Secondary Surveillance Radar. Aerial Reconnaissance Systems focus on gathering intelligence through various means, including visual imagery or signals intelligence, but do not specifically assign identity to entities in the same way that Secondary Surveillance Radar does.