The ancient art of warfare
has now evolved into a sophisticated battlefield strategy based on the large
scale use of fighting platforms and combat equipment stuffed with advanced
electronic systems and devices capable of “seeing and sensing devices” beyond
the “visual range”.
Clearly and apparently, Electronics Warfare (EW)
paves way for enhanced situational awareness and information dominance to stay
ahead of the adversary in the thick of the battlefield. Basically EW strategy
revolves round the exploitation of electromagnetic spectrum or directed energy
to control and manipulate the spectrum and take enemy by surprise.
On another front, EW also focuses on limiting and
impeding the access of adversaries to the potentials of spectrum. As it is, EW
has been defined as an integrated and composite defensive and offensive
strategy based on the exploitation of electromagnetic energy to detect,
exploit, minimize or obviate the use of electromagnetic spectrum by the
adversaries.
EW platforms can be based in air, land, sea and
space and could be both manned and unmanned devices. As it is, the mastery of
EW operations is also critical for the successful implementation of the network
centric warfare strategy. Further, EW is also crucial to exploit the full
potentials of an aerospace command.
Potential of EW
The daring accomplishment of Naval SEALs of the
US National Special Warfare Development Group that led to the assassination of
the most dreaded terrorist Osama Bin Laden in the town of Abbottabad in May
2011 stands out as a tribute to the marvels of EW. For the air raid involving a
well equipped helicopter used for this mission was launched from the
neighbouring Afghanistan. That this helicopter was able to successfully evade
the detection of the ground based radars in Pakistan and zero in on the target
speaks volume for its robust stealth features.
As it is, stealth operations are a vital
component of EW strategy. Similarly, the potentials of EW in realizing the
strategic goals speedily and affordably was convincingly developed by the
sustained deployment by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) of remotely
operated, weaponized drones endowed with the faculties of intelligence and
automation to pound the safe sanctuaries of radical groups and Taliban militia
in the difficult to access mountainous stretches spread across Pakistan and
Afghanistan.
In the ultimate analysis, the key ingredients of
a successful EW strategy include automation, intelligence stealth, remote
manipulation and unmanned surveillance. The expanding frontiers of EW also draw
heavily from the potentials of satellites, communications and information
networks which pave way for the smooth integration of fighting platforms,
command centres and defence forces spread around the world.
The Hyderabad based Defence Electronics Research
Laboratory (DLRL) of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
is involved in the development of integrated electronic warfare systems for the
Indian armed forces. Its primary responsibility includes the design and
development of state of the art electronic warfare systems covering radar and
communications frequency ranges.
India’s EW efforts
By all means, the development of Weapon Locating
Radar (WLR) by the Bangalore based Electronics and Radar Development
Establishment (LRDE) of DRDO is a major boost to the EW efforts of the Indian
defence forces. In addition to locating hostile artillery/mortar units and
rocket launchers, WLR is capable of detecting projectiles with small cross
sections across the battle space horizon. Further, it can handle simultaneous
fire from weapons found in a variety of locations.
To expedite the development and qualification of
radar based electronics warfare systems, DRDO has set up two new sophisticated
test ranges-one at Chitradurga in Karnataka and the other at Tandur in Andhra
Pradesh. Radar based sophisticated communication systems would use
electromagnetic spectrum for attack, protection and warfare support to destroy
the combat capabilities of the enemy.
It is in the fitness of things that DLRL and DARE
(Defence Avionics Research Establishment) are focussing on the development of
fourth generation EW Systems. According to former Indian President and a
globally acknowledged defence and space scientist Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, “The
electronics warfare system is a force multiplier which needs a high level of
secrecy for maintaining surprise against adversary actions. In such a
situation, it is essential that the system design, architecture and deployment
knowledge is generated within the country and maintained as a closely guarded
information by services. This is essential to ensure tactical and strategic
advantages for our armed forces during an operation”.
Even as India lags behind US and China in the
area of EW, efforts are nonetheless on to design and develop systems and combat
platforms meant to take India’s capability in EW to the next level of
sophistication.
For instance, Samyukta mobile electronics warfare
system developed jointly by DRDO, BEL, and ECIL (Electronics Corporation of
India Limited) as well as the Corps of Signals of the Indian Army is well
suited for tactical battlefield use. It covers a wide range of frequencies and
coverage in electronics spectrum is handled by the communications segment and
non communications segment. Clearly and apparently, it has both electronic
intelligence and communications intelligence capabilities built into it.
Obviously, Samyukta, the development of which was
supported by over 40 Indian micro, small and medium industries, could very well
serve as a test bed for developing futuristic EW systems of varying
specifications. The system is composed of 400 individual entities and has the
built in capability for surveillance, interception, monitoring, analysis,
recording, location fixing and jamming of all communication and radar systems.
On the other hand, Mayavi electronic warfare
suite designed and developed by DARE and BEL used in combat aircraft has many
advantageous features. Mayavi is designed to enhance survivability during deep
penetration and actual combat. Mayavi includes a radar warning receiver,
missile approach warning system, laser warning receiver system and infra red
ultraviolet missile warning sensor as well as self protection jammer, chaff,
jaff and flares, electronics counter measure suite and a towed radar decoy.
DARE has also successfully equipped a range
of fighter aircraft in service with the Indian Air Force (IAF) and warships
with the Indian Navy with a variety of electronic armours composed of
electronic support measures and self protection jammer. Indeed, DARE has made
significant contribution to the area of air borne electronic warfare. The
electronic warfare wing of DARE primarily focuses on the design and development
of radar warning systems and warfare suites for a variety of fighter
aircraft, military transport aircraft and helicopters with a view to enhance
their survivability and mission accomplishment.
Directed energy weapons
RF (Radio Frequency) weapons have the potentials
to persistently disrupt or damage the combat equipment liberally stuffed with
electronics devices. Against this backdrop Directed Energy Weapons (DEW) which
generates a beam of concentrated electromagnetic energy to irradiate and
destroy targets could very well become the future of EW. Of course, right at
the moment, DEWs are long way off from being fit enough for deployment in the
battlefield. Significantly, the positive features of DEW include controlled
lethality, cost effectiveness, high speed, ability to counter moving targets and
precision engagement. By all means, DEW can very well herald revolutionary
changes in the way the war is fought.
DEWs can be based on lasers, high powered
microwaves and particle beams. Though considerable ground work has been done in
the areas of lasers, high power microwaves and other directed energy
technologies, development of weapons continues to pose a stiff challenge. There
is no denying the fact that the nascent technology of DEW will revolutionize
many aspects of modern warfare.
As part of its long term plan of putting in place
a range of high performance futuristic battlefield systems based on cutting
edge technologies, DRDO is focussing on realizing operational DEWs. As part of
this vision, DRDO has on hand a project to develop a high energy laser beam
weapon capable of destroying an incoming enemy missile. If all goes well then
DRDO would develop a laser system based on solid state device that would be
capable of generating a power of 25-kW to shoot down a missile during its
terminal phase at a distance of 5-7 km.
Developing a laser system of this magnitude poses
a serious challenge since at this point of time, the country lacks the
expertise and knowhow required to produce a laser beam capable generating
just a couple of kilo watts of power. Of course, under the Aditya Technology
demonstrator project DRDO would work on gas dynamic laser and chemical laser
technology. Ultimately, DRDO should be able to achieve a breakthrough in
realizing a compact, solid state laser device capable of shooting down a
missile.
Indeed, whether it is unmanned aerial vehicles,
new ammunition and missiles or spectral surveillance and dominance, increasing
reliance on high performance electronics devices has become the order of the
day.
Significantly the Bangalore based India
Product Development Centre of the US based Analog Devices has developed a
range of cutting edge systems to support various aspects of EW. Analog
Devices has made its products available to the variety of UAV systems being
developed in India.
Use of satellites
By all means, high performance satellites meant
for a variety of end use could be a major game changer for the Indian defence
forces keen on boosting their EW fighting capability. Indeed, the successful
launch of IRNSS-1C satellite constituting a part of the seven spacecraft IRNSS
(Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System) constellation in October this
year could help Indian defence forces access the navigational potentials
of the system to give a new edge to their combat readiness.
Moreover, when fully operational, IRNSS would
free India from its dependence on American GPS. Indeed, for all the three wings
of services, uninterrupted access to IRNSS capability would go a long way
towards expanding the scope of their EW capability. The coverage area of the
IRNSS includes the Indian subcontinent and around 1500-km beyond the Indian
geographical stretch. By making use of the capabilities of IRNSS constellation,
weapons such as smart bombs, projectiles and cruise missile could be guided to
hit targets with “stunning precision”.
For the Indian defence forces in the thick of
operations in the remote battlefield, a GPS system enables locating objects and
landmarks in the dark and paves way for the coordination of troop movement even
in hitherto unfamiliar territory. Further, the access to the satellite
navigation capability gives a new edge to surveillance and reconnaissance
operations. Indeed, dedicated navigation satellites have become an
indispensable tool for aircraft, warships and ground based forces to get a head
start in the battlefield and derive tremendous tactical advantages to take the
enemy by surprise. It was the extensive use of GPS system capability that
helped US led allied forces realize strategic goals both in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Weather watch satellites providing forecast of
climatic conditions that facilitate bombing raids and missile launches,
navigation satellite guiding lethal weapons to designated locations,
reconnaissance satellites locating the exact geographical position of military
targets, electronic ferret satellites collecting data on radio frequencies,
communications satellites providing real time secure links between defence
forces scattered over a vast geographical swathe for a coordinated strategy and
ocean watch satellites snooping on the naval movement of the adversaries have
all become puppets on a string of modern day battlefield strategy.
By all means spacecraft systems hold the
key for well coordinated and synchronized operations of a battlefield strategy
by seamlessly integrating weapons systems, missiles, radars and sensor suits,
UAVs, combat drones, electronics and communications networks, fighter jets,
transport aircraft, logistic and support systems and defence forces spread
across a vast geographical swathe for sustaining “strategic superiority”.
According to Indian Defence Ministry’s fifteen years Technology Perspective and
Capability Roadmap, small, networked satellites would help expand the Indian
military’s intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities.
DLRL on its part is planning to develop an
Electronics Intelligence (ELINT) satellite for the exclusive use of the Indian
defence forces. As envisaged now, this satellite featuring a Synthetic Aperture
Radar (SAR) capable of functioning under all weather conditions would be
launched by means of a launch vehicle at the disposal of the Indian Space
Research Organisation (ISRO) during 2015-16 timeframe. This satellite in
particular will help Indian defence forces monitor trouble spots along its
international borders.
Of course, right at the moment, Indian defence
forces can easily access the capabilities of RISAT-1 and RISAT-II microwave
remote sensing satellites being operated by ISRO for keeping a tab on the
troops build up along India’s rovers with China and Pakistan.
In a development of significance, Indian Navy
notched up the distinction of getting India’s first ever dedicated military
satellite with the successful launch GSAT-7 multi band satellite in August
2013. Indeed, the secure communications potentials of GSAT-7 will help the
Indian Navy get a digital tactical battlefield view of the dispersed fleet
formations, aircraft locations and even submarines moving stealthily in the
depths of the oceans. The synergy between combat platforms moving in the high
seas of the world with the land based nodes through GSAT-7 capability would
help bring about a radical shift in the operational strategy of the Indian Navy.
As a follow up to GSAT-7, it is planned to orbit
GSAT-7A as the dedicated IAF satellite for linking-up India’s air-borne early
warning and control systems aircraft with each other as well as with ground and
air based radars. The Defence space vision 2020 of IAF outlines the need to
harness satellite resources in a big way to augment the Indian defence
capabilities.
The satellite capabilities would help IAF
effectively harness the potentials of its three Israeli origin AWACS system.
Incidentally, this AWACS mounted on the Russian IL-76 transport aircraft is
designed to make available 360 degree coverage in all directions and of course
with advance warning to help IAF prepare for counter measure. Meanwhile,
Bangalore based Centre for Air Borne Systems (CABS) is close to delivering the
first of the three AEW&C system it has built around the Brazilian Embraer
aircraft. The home-grown AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array Radar) which
is the major sensor on-board AEW&C is capable of tracking more than 500
targets simultaneously. Sources in CABS point out that AEW&C is capable of
sensing the threat scenario, providing early warning and enabling execution of
counter measures and counter threats.
India’s fifth generation combat aircraft AMCA
(Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft) taken up for development by the Bangalore
based Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) as a follow up to the fourth
generation supersonic fighter Tejas LCA (Light Combat Aircraft) which is now
winging its way towards Final Operational Clearance (FOC) planned for 2015 will
have very small radar cross section to enhance its stealth features. Its
EW suite would include an AESA radar and IR search and track system. As it is,
EW system fitted on into Tejas includes a radar warning jammer, laser warning
system, missile approach warner, emitter as well as a flare and dispenser.
On another front, India is also keenly looking at
equipping its futuristic Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles (UCAV) with range of
sensors to boost its EW fighting capability. For intelligent, smart UCAVs would
very well be the future of air power in the years ahead. Indeed, the successful
deployment of drones by CIA in Pakistan and Afghanistan has already
demonstrated their efficacy in hitting targets with a minimum of collateral
damages.