Identification -- friend or foe systems which utilize computer control continuously changing interrogation signals and responding signals have been developed. The signals are varied in a time dependent manner, however, it is possible that an intruder might intercept a proper responding signal and repeat the code of this responding signal, and thus confuse the interrogating station. The present system allows a responding signal to be used only once during a particular time interval so that an interrogating station will know that if an otherwise proper responding signal is received twice during a time interval, that the second signal is spurious.