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Secure ranging, explained

Identity alone is not enough. How two IFF nodes prove who they are and how far apart they are, in one radio exchange.

Published on 1 min read

Soldier aiming a rifle with the IFF Core on the rail

Before anyone acts, two devices settle a question between themselves: is the other one a friend, and where exactly is it? The IFF Core answers both in the same exchange.

Four steps

  • Radio dialog: two IFF nodes talk directly, device to device
  • Credential check: each side proves it holds valid cryptographic credentials
  • Secure ranging: the same exchange measures the physical distance
  • Decision: authenticated means friend; no valid answer, no friend classification

Why distance matters

A relayed or replayed answer always arrives from further away than the device claims to be. Measuring the distance inside the authenticated exchange exposes exactly that.

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