An identification system for a digital air traffic control center, comprising: one or more air traffic objects carrying a pulsed illuminator arranged for emitting pulsed illumination; a pulsed illumination modulation module operatively associated with the pulsed illuminator and configured to modulate pulsed illumination emitted by the pulsed illuminator with an air traffic object identity; a sensor with a pulse detection array and having a field of view; a user interface to display the one or more air traffic objects in the field of view of the sensor; and a controller having: an air traffic object recognition module, disposed in communication with the sensor, configured to receive image data and recognize the one or more air traffic objects according to shape using the image data; and an air traffic object identification module, disposed in communication with the pulse detection array, configured to receive pulse data, wherein: the air traffic object identification module is configured and adapted to identify the one or more air traffic objects using the pulsed illumination emitted by the pulsed illuminator carried by the air traffic objects within the field of view of the sensor; the pulse detection array and the sensor are configured and adapted to generate both the image data for air traffic object recognition by the air traffic object recognition module, and the pulse data for identification of individual air traffic objects by the air traffic object identification module; and the user interface is configured to display both the identity and the shape of the one or more air traffic objects in the field of view of the sensor. one or more air traffic objects carrying a pulsed illuminator arranged for emitting pulsed illumination; a pulsed illumination modulation module operatively associated with the pulsed illuminator and configured to modulate pulsed illumination emitted by the pulsed illuminator with an air traffic object identity; a sensor with a pulse detection array and having a field of view; a user interface to display the one or more air traffic objects in the field of view of the sensor; and a controller having: an air traffic object recognition module, disposed in communication with the sensor, configured to receive image data and recognize the one or more air traffic objects according to shape using the image data; and an air traffic object identification module, disposed in communication with the pulse detection array, configured to receive pulse data, an air traffic object recognition module, disposed in communication with the sensor, configured to receive image data and recognize the one or more air traffic objects according to shape using the image data; and an air traffic object identification module, disposed in communication with the pulse detection array, configured to receive pulse data, the air traffic object identification module is configured and adapted to identify the one or more air traffic objects using the pulsed illumination emitted by the pulsed illuminator carried by the air traffic objects within the field of view of the sensor; the pulse detection array and the sensor are configured and adapted to generate both the image data for air traffic object recognition by the air traffic object recognition module, and the pulse data for identification of individual air traffic objects by the air traffic object identification module; and the user interface is configured to display both the identity and the shape of the one or more air traffic objects in the field of view of the sensor.