The Centre for Joint Warfare Studies (CENJOWS) and Indian Military Review jointly conducted the Air & Missile Defence Seminar 2019 at DRDO Bhawan, New Delhi on 14-15 November 2019. The focus of the seminar was on integrating new technologies and optimizing legacy system.
Inaugural Session
Welcome Address. Lt Gen Vinod Bhatia, Director CENJOWS highlighted the significance of air & missile defence. In the wake of the Balakot strike by the Indian Air Force (IAF) in Pakistan on 26 Feb 2019, a new paradigm had been created, he said, and air defence (AD) in future would have to be ready 24×7. The 14 September 2019 attack on Saudi Arabia’s oil facilities by armed drones and cruise missiles had also significantly changed the nature of future wars by opening new domains, which would mandate countermeasures by Air Defence. He emphasized the importance of finding new solutions by the Indian defence industry and R &D community. He reiterated the aim of the seminar which was to bring all stake holders on a common platform for discussing the integration of new technologies, optimizing legacy system and come out with an action plan on the way ahead.
Special Address. Lt Gen PS Rajeshwar, Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee highlighted the rapidly changing dimension of air threat and the need for evolving countermeasures to meet the threats in an environment of joint and network centric wars. He stated the need to relook at the Vulnerable Areas/Vulnerable Points, which require protection, work out the right mix of hard and soft kill weapons, based on an accurate threat assessment. While doing so the inter-se cost factor must also be kept in mind. He said that new technologies would have to work in concert with older concepts which would remain relevant but must mesh with new technologies seamlessly.
Theme Address. Lt Gen AP Singh, Director General (DG) Army Air Defence (AAD) described the emerging challenges for AD, which included drones, advanced aircraft, missiles, hypersonic glide vehicles and cyber warfare. He explained that the AD forces would have to counter stand-off attacks as also close strikes by drones, operate in conventional and sub conventional roles, be prepared 24×7, operate in a highly saturated EW environment and network its operations to ensure seamless and instant fusion as well as passage of data. He highlighted the huge opportunities available to all stake holders to come up with solutions for the emerging milieu. He stated that the AAD required sensors, guns and missiles, Lasers and High-Power Microwave (HPM) systems, electric warfare (EW) suites, control and reporting systems, which would have to work in a networked and joint environment. He exhorted all stake holders to create home grown and cost effective solutions to meet the needs of the AAD.
IMR-EY Knowledge Paper on Air Defence. A Knowledge Paper on Air Defence prepared by IMR and Ernst & Young (EY) was released by the guests during the Inaugural Session.
Industry Perspective. Col KV Kuber, Director, (Defence and Aerospace) Ernst & Young gave the industry perspective on the emerging air threats and the new-generation AD systems, which would be required for countering them. He stated that the drone strikes in Saudi Arabia highlighted the asymmetric impact of low cost equipment on the world economy and the need to guard against such threats. He spoke about the ongoing AD programmes, the evolution of high tech equipment manufacturing by the Indian defence industry, the need to hand-hold important projects by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and highlighted the slow pace of procurement cases. He reiterated the need to put in measures to remove the blockages in the procurement process and the importance of cost-to-kill ratio, which should be factored during the development and procurement cycle. He also gave an insight into the growth story of defence public sector undertakings (DPSUs), Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO), Indian defence industry and the emerging changes in this field.
Session 1 : Contours of Aerial Threat
The session was chaired by Air Mshl BR Krishna, DG Air Operations, Air HQ.
Wg Cdr P Prakash, Wing Commander Air Defence-IV, Air HQ spoke on “Air THreat Manifestation” and included an overview of the evolving facets of air threat and preparedness measures to meet the threats. He highlighted the the importance of counter drone technologies and latest measures being undertaken for capability building.
Col S Rajeev, Colonel Air Defence (Operations) Army AD Directorate, Army HQ, spoke on “Emerging threats from unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and drones.” He highlighted the latest trends to include swarm drones, MUMT (manned-unmanned teaming), networked and failsafe C&R links. He highlighted the focus areas which include detection and identification means and, thereafter, the weapon assignment which would include both hard and soft kill.
Ranadeep Saha, Deputy General Manager Radar Development, Larsen & Toubro, spoke on “Fire Control Radars in Air Defence Scenario” and highlighted the Radar development programme of L&T and the new technologies which were being incorporated.
Joseph (Yossi) Horowitz of Rafael Advanced Defense Systems spoke on ” M-SHORADS – Protecting Manoeuvring Forces Against Air Threats” bringing out that M-SHORADS were ideal for protecting manoeuvring forces against air threats. He highlighted that MSHORADs were being incorporated by most advanced nations including USA in their concepts and that solution could provide an effective shield against emerging air threats including drones.
Session 2 : Emerging Technologies
The session was chaired by Lt Gen (Dr) VK Saxena, former DG AAD, Army HQ.
Gp Capt AP Deshpande, Gp Capt Air Staff Requirements, Air HQ, spoke on “Developments in Air Munitions and Delivery Systems.” He gave an insight into latest trends and the tech requirements in aircrafts for future wars.
Capt (IN) Robin Chakraborty, Capt SR (Gun), Naval HQ spoke on “Emerging AD Technologies – Naval Systems”. He explained the Naval AD philosophy and the challenges of AD in maritime environment. He highlighted the emerging technologies in naval systems like precision weapons, net enabled munitions, advanced delivery systems, ability to operate in GPS denied environment, etc.
The chairperson highlighted the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in AD systems and gave an insight into other fields of emerging technologies, which will make the AD environment most challenging in times to come.
Second Day
Inaugural Session
Welcome Address. Lt Gen Vinod Bhatia, Director CENJOWS recalled the discussions of the previous day and encouraged the delegates to highlight the way ahead for meeting the challenges, both external and internal in the AD domain.
Special Address. Lt Gen Satinder Singh, Commandant Army AD College, gave an insight into the evolution of AD and the challenges posed by use of disruptive technologies by both state and non-state actors. Use of technology had made everyone vulnerable and the need for a responsive 24×7 alert AD system was necessary. He highlighted the necessity to optimize the available resources, use innovations and collaborations with academia and industry to find solutions to the emerging challenges. He spoke on the need to incorporate new technologies like Directed Energy Weapons (DEW), HPMW, Automated C&R system in the Army AD and the requirement to train the AD warriors to be able to exploit them for success in future battlefields.
Session 3 : Integrated Air Defence Battle and Challenges
The session was chaired by Air Vice Mshl Surat Singh, Asst Chief of Air Staff Operations (Space), Air HQ.
Capt (IN) MS Khurana, Director Naval Operations (DNO) spoke on “Air Defence of the Fleet” and discussed the maritime environment, which posed additional challenges for AD. He highlighted that the sea was a medium for all users, a global common and the need, therefore, to have state-of-the-art communications, net-centricity, identification friend or foe (IFF), surveillance and weapons to counter the emerging air threats.
Brig V Mahajan, Commander 786 (I) AD Brigade, spoke on “Concept of AD Electronic Warfare Operations.” He spoke about the need to make EW an offensive arm of the AD plan. He highlighted that with the emerging drone and UAV threats this would yield cost-effective solutions in countering the air threat. He gave an overview of the EW systems and their employment for active AD protection along with the other existing systems.
Session 4 : Self Reliance in
Air Defence
The session was chaired by Maj Gen SP Goswami, Addl DG Army AD, Army HQ.
Col GL Sharma, Colonel AD (SRSAM/ MRSAM), AAD Directorate, spoke on “Self Reliance in Defence Production – Can India Achieve It?”. He highlighted the various challenges which existed in our current procurement system and compared the best practices of other nations. He proposed changes in the Defence Procurement procedure (DPP) and policy issues which would assist in streamlining the system.
Dr Amit Kumar from Advanced Systems Laboratory, DRDO, spoke on “Latest Developments in Missile Defence Systems.” He highlighted the extensive use of advanced technologies and the development of the Indian ballistic missile defence (BMD) system over the years.
Closing Session
Special Addesss. Dr G Satheesh Reddy, Chairman DRDO and Secretary Department of Defence R&D gave a special address and highlighted the complex air threat environment, which was emerging. The use of advanced technologies like hypersonic glide vehicles, UAVs/ drones, sixth-gen aircraft, advanced missiles with long ranges, use of AI and advent of autonomous systems would pose immense challenges in securing the skies in future, he said. He highlighted the future requirements in AD systems, which would include Radar systems capable of detecting such threats, Laser and HPMW systems, BMD systems, failsafe communications and networked systems for real time 24×7 actions. He also gave an insight into the indigenous AD programmes, which were ongoing and those planned in the future to meet those challenges.
Closing Address. Maj Gen Ravi Arora gave the Vote of Thanks and thanked all the delegates and participants for their presence on the two days and invigorating discussions.
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Summary of Recommendations
The seminar provided an opportunity to all the stake holders to discuss the relevant issues pertaining to Air and Missile Defence. A number of important and relevant issues emerged which will indicate the way forward in providing secure Air Defence to the country. These are summarized as follows:-
• Air threats emerging as a result of complex systems and advanced technologies, used in conjunction with drones and armed UAVs by both state and non-state actors were creating challenge which are both outward and inward looking. Longer ranges of aircraft and munitions as well as shorter ranges and sizes of drones require evolving effective systems and structures to meet these threats.
• Drones and UAVs have changed the dimension of air threat as demonstrated in the attacks in Saudi Arabia. Drones mitigation will need Point Defence at various VAs/VPs across the country and both hard and soft kill options need to be factored in. India also needs to put in place a comprehensive drone policy along with criminal and legal aspects covering all issues of dereliction.
• Drones and UAVs mitigation will involve Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and other central and state organisations. There is a pressing need to create a common forum where all stake holders can resolve issues. SOPs for detection, identification and bringing down these threats especially in the hinterland need to be put in place. Seamless communication between all agencies, C&R, and common protocols and procedures is the need of the hour.
• The training of CAPFs, Army AD and IAF AD elements should be done together so that the issues highlighted above can be resolved. Army AD College can be nominated as the nodal training centre for all CAPFs for this aspect.
• The Indian defence industry, DRDO and DPSUs need to invest in R&D for developing niche technologies for our future needs. Imports need to be reduced and indigenous cost effective solutions found to meet our future requirements.
• Defence procurement needs to be simplified and bottlenecks identified and removed in order to ensure timely procurement. Hand-holding can be carried out if required to promote indigenous manufacture. Services should plan incubators to encourage R&D catering to their specific needs. Lateral move of domain experts from Services to DRDO, academia and industry should be encouraged for specific projects.
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Dr G Sathesh Reddy, DG DRDO and Secretary Dept of Defence Research
Lt Gen AP Singh, Director General Army Air Defence
Lt Gen PS Rajeshwar Chief of Integrated Staff to COSC
Lt Gen Satinder Singh Commandant Army Air Defence College
Air Mshl BR Krishna Director General Air Operations
Lt Gen Vinod Bhatia Director CENJOWS
Speakers from left Dr Amit Kumar from Advanced Systems Laboratory, DRDO, Maj Gen Ravi Arora, Chief Editor IMR, Maj Gen SP Goswami, Addl DG Army Air Defence and Col GL Sharma, Col AD (SRSAM/ MRSAM), AAD Directorate
Speakers from left, Capt (IN) MS Khurana, Director Naval Operations, Lt Gen Vinod Bhatia, Director CENJOWS, Air Vice Marshal Surat Singh, ACAS Operations (Space) and Brig V Mahajan, Commander 786 (I) Air Defence Brigade.
Air Vice Mshl Surat Singh ACAS Operations (Space)
Joseph ‘Yossi’ Horowitz Rafael Advanced Defense Systems
Ranadeep Saha, Deputy GM Radar Development, L&T
Capt (IN) Robin Chakravorty Capt SR (Gun), Naval HQ
Gp Capt AP Deshpande Gp Capt Air Staff Requirements
Capt (IN) MS Khurana, Director Naval Operations
Col S Rajeev, Colonel Air Defence (Operations) Army AD Directorate
Col KV Kuber, Director Defence & Aerospace, Ernst & Young
