Abstract: An Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) system uses CO.sub.2 laser identification beacons on ground vehicles such as tanks, in conjunction with an existing (or future) Forward Looking InfraRed (FLIR) detection system on an attacking aircraft or ground vehicle, to provide a cost effective solution to the problem of identifying friendly targets on a battlefield. The CO.sub.2 Laser can produce radiation only in the FLIR's spectral band, aiding stealth and improving signal to noise ratio. An acousto-optical modulator in conjunction with a specially shaped optical reflector steers the beam in the desired direction toward the FLIR in the attacking aircraft, aiding stealth and detection signal to noise ratio. The optical element also shapes the beam into the desired angular extent, needed for reception by the attacking aircraft.