The present multi-domain warfare and impending theaterisation demand coordination and integration across all domains. Communication enables this coordination with real time interaction and transmission of data amongst the fighting forces in all domains. All this is facilitated now with digitisation of the communication in all dimensions.

The aim of Digitisation and Network Centric Operations (NCO) in the Armed Forces webinar & virtual expo was to provide a forum for the stakeholders in the Services and Industry to enable information exchange on latest technologies particularly relating to the digitisation in the Army, effective network-centric operations, C4ISR, communication systems, decision support information systems for exchange of data and big Data including its challenges and vulnerabilities, the space domain and impact of new technologies (5G, IoT, AI, VR/AR) on warfare.

The event brought together stakeholders from the armed forces, DRDO, public sector, industry and academia and provided them a platform to present their views and discuss pathways.

Inaugural Session

Welcome Address. Lt Gen Sunil Srivastava, Director, Centre for Joint Warfare Studies put the theme of the Webinar in context and highlighted the present multidomain warfighting environment. He emphasized that digitization and net-centric operations were the core of battlefield dominance. All actors were leveraging digitization and NCO by weaponising information technology. He said that we must embrace digital jointness to unlock the digital battle space. Seamless sharing of warfighting information will generate shared operational awareness, effects and tempo which we could use to our advantage to paralise the adversaries OODA cycle. There is a need to seamlessly share info, link sensors & shooters and decision makers, even in a degraded environment, aggregating the combat capabilities of Services while remaining physically disaggregated. C2 Agility brings Force Agility which enhances Force Effectiveness.

Special Address. Vice Admiral Atul Kumar Jain, Chief of Integrated Staff to Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee (CISC) spoke of the contextual relevance of the webinar with the urgent operational need of Services to move forward towards joint networking and digitisation especially as our adversaries and particularly the Northern neighbour was already exploiting it, leaving no choice but to move forward at a faster pace in this direction. He opined that in modern warfighting the one who dominates in the information domain will stand to win. Space and cyber domains while being independent also influence operations in other domains. In his address, he brought out the relevance of satellite surveillance and satellite communication and several new technologies such as 5G, Artificial intelligence etc., all of which enhance the warfighting capability.

Keynote Address. Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi, Deputy Chief of Army Staff (Information Systems & Communications), Army HQ gave the Keynote Address and an outline of new initiatives and consolidation of the earlier efforts undertaken by the Indian Army in its journey towards induction of modern technology for conduct of military affairs at all levels involving operational, logistics and human resources. He talked of new generation technologies like Artificial intelligence, 5G, Quantum technology, Robotics, drones and so on. In this journey, the Army is also coordinating with several agencies under the Ministry of information technology, DRDO and academic institutions like IITs and has ordered studies and conducting seminars to remain in step with the new technologies for conduct of military affairs both in peace and war. He was critical of the long process of our defence procurement since by the time products are inducted, these are at the verge of obsolescence. To infuse efficiency in the process, he suggested to pin point accountability for the delays in the procurement process and also suggested a layered GSQR concept which would give time to the concerned staff to introduce workable amendment in the GSQRs so as to stay abreast with the technology. As regards communication, he informed that, as dug in cable communication remains vulnerable, the focus now is on wireless and digitised communication and net centricity between services. He mentioned that an integrated operational and intelligence system will facilitate Theaterisation.

Technology Perspective. Dr Ranjana N, Director, Directorate of Systems and Technology Analysis (DSTA), DRDO HQ, pointed out that digitisation was inevitable. She said that data was a strategic asset. Improved knowledge at all levels could naturally lead to integration in all layers of operations which may even call for changes in the tactics and doctrines. Data must be protected and managed to attain immediate and long-term strategic advantage to the military. Designing of systems is a challenge since it not only has to be robust in hardware and software but, their modularity and scalability is also essential. Cyber hardening of storage, NW and Sensors is equally important. Obsolescence of equipment and their upgradation is big challenge. We are constrained to run old systems with systems of new technologies. Thus, along with old systems, we should able to operate/integrate new sensors and technologies such as 5/6G, AI, big data etc. She cautioned that conceptualisation is the big challenge since the product may not exactly be as visualised. Further, layered architecture and modularity are the key to the modern comn equipment and will have to be developed indigenously. She highlighted that DRDO is working on GIS, Adhoc NW, MANETS, SDR, EW, AI, XL-UUVs, change detection and mine hunting.

Industry Perspective. Col KV Kuber, Director Defence & Aerospace, Ernst & Young gave the industry perspective. He asserted that COVID-19 pandemic had forced digitisation in the country including in the Services. He felt that digitisation in the Services was lagging behind the civil side. Therefore, the pace of digitisation in the Services needed to be hastened particularly in procurement, which could be faster with digitisation. He said that since legacy systems could not be changed in one go, digitisation should be able to integrate the old legacy systems as well. Compatibility, interoperability and backward integration were important. He highlighted the AKANKSHA model of DRDO. He recommended adoption of the waterfall/Agile approach and exhorted that procurement should not be an imprisoned by procedures.

Session 2 was earmarked for Digitisation issues related to the Army. The session was chaired by Lt Gen Dr RS Panwar, former Commandant of Military Collete of Telecom Engineering. Brig Ulhas Kirpekar, Brig Information Systems, Army HQ spoke on “The Digital Army and Initiatives.” Maj Gen K Shankar, Additional Director General Telecom in the Directorate of Signals, Army HQ spoke on the “Role of Army Cloud Centre and Digi Locker.” Brig SS Soin, Brig Telecom, Signals Directorate, Army HQ gave a presentation on “Future of ASCON and AREN Networks.”

The theme of Session 3 was Network Centric Operations and was chaired by Vice Adm Shekhar Sinha, former FOC-in-C Western Naval Command. Capt JS Sachdeva, Captain NCO, Naval HQ spoke on “Technology Perspective and Capability Roadmap requirements of the Navy for NCO.” Col Vineet Jaiswal, from Directorate of Information Systems gave the “Technology Perspective and Capability Roadmap requirements of the Army for NCO.” Air Cmde KN Santosh, Principal Director, Operational Networks, Air HQ spoke on “IAF Technology Perspective & Capability Roadmap requirements.” Gp Capt Parijat Saurabh, Air HQ spoke on “Meeting Electronic Warfare Threats.”

Session 4 was on C4ISR, Command & Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence. The session chairman was Lt Gen PJS Pannu, former Dy Chief IDS (Operations). Dr K Rajalakshmi Menon, Program Director (ISTAR), Centre for Airborne Studies, DRDO gave a talk on “ISTARS for Indian Armed Forces.” Col Abhijit Singh, Colonel Artillery-9, in the Directorate of Artillery, spoke on “Aerostats for surveillance and C2.”  Gp Capt P Batra, Gp Capt (Airborne Sensors & Networking), Air HQ gave a talk on “Airborne Early Warning Aircraft as Force Multipliers.”

Session 5 was devoted to Communication Systems. Lt Gen Rajeev Sabherwal, former SOC-in-C and Commandant MCTE chaired the session. Col Gurmeet Singh, HQ IDS, gave a talk on “Tri-Services Strategic / Operational Communications.” Brig Rajiv Singh, Brig Tactical Communication Systems, from Signals Directorate spoke on “Battlefield Tri-Services Tactical Communications.” Himansu Kumar Swamy, Scientist E, Centre for Artificial Intelligence Research, DRDO spoke on “Maritime Data analysis & visualization.”

Session 6 was on Information, Data and Big Data – Challenges and Vulnerabilities. The session was chaired by Maj Gen Pritam Bishnoi, former Additional DG Tactical Communications, Signals Directorate, Army HQ. Brig Inder Sethi, Brig CICP, Ordnance Services Directorate spoke on “Data Sovereignty and Big Data Analytics.” Devsena Mishra, Promoter Advanced Technologies gave a talk on “How Big Data and Big Tech undermine national security.” Maj Gen Manjit Singh, Joint Secretary (Cyber) NSC Secretariat gave a talk on “Emerging cyber security threats.”

Session 7 dealt with Space Domination and Satellites under the chairmanship of Lt Gen Satish Dua, former CISC. Air Cmde Prem Kumar, from the Defence Space Agency spoke on “Requirement of robust space situational awareness.” Gp Capt Amarendra Samal, Gp Capt Operations (Space), Air HQ gave a talk on “Steering India towards military space domination.” Capt Manish Kumar, Capt NSO-SA, Naval HQ gave a presentation on “Security of satellite-based Communication networks.”

Session 8 covered New Technologies – 5G, Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence, Virtual Reality/ Augmented Reality and was chaired by Lt Gen MU Nair, Commandant MCTE. Dr Santu Sardar, Director DRDO Young Scientists Lab gave a talk on “Relevance of Quantum Communications Technology for Armed Forces.” Brig Navjot Singh Bedi, Commander Defence Communications Agency. Spoke on “Relevance of 5G for the armed forces.”  Maj Gen Harsh Chibber, Maj Gen ASC HQ Western Command spoke on “Transforming and Reducing Costs of Military Logistics Through IoT.”

The Closing Remarks were given by Lt Gen Sunil Srivastava, Director CENJOWS while the Vote of Thanks was delivered by Maj Gen Ravi Arora, Chief Editor, Indian Military Review.

Key Points Needing Attention

The key points which emerged in the eight sessions of the webinar are tabulated below:-

• Theaterisation would need tri-service digital infrastructure to support seamless op, decision support structure and battlefield management & C2 constructs.            

•  One of the challenges in integration is to have an attitudinal change towards automation and adopting agile processes. This also involves breaking away from silos.                                                                                                                 

•  The architecture of NCO system will require individual Service data centres and secure linkages with the joint regional data centre with a robust and secure cloud storage. The cloud storage will reduce the burden of forward fighting formations, which could retrieve relevant information, as required.

• The ongoing transformation in the strategic and tactical communication network i.e., Army Static Switched Communication Network (ASCON) to Network for Spectrum (NFS) and Army Radio Engineered Network (AREN) to Tactical Communication System (TCS) with overarching presence of satellite communication must continue to achieve the transformational targets. In that, the fibre optics based NFS is the back bone and integrator of three services. This is planned to be supplemented with satellites and microwave communication to extend it till the forward edge of the battle through TCS.

•   Besides three Services, the data and information also emanate from several other sources and also from other domains such as space, cyber etc in different formats which need standardisation.

•  To pick up relevant intelligence, about the adversary’s capabilities / limitations, information sharing will not only be between Services but, could even be from other national/ international sources. This requires synergy with various national and international organisations. With introduction of core strategic network NFS, the Army, Naval and Air force Strategic networks should handshake with it for integration of their data, video and voice communication.                

•  It is important to invest in infrastructure for safe, secure and seamless joint operations with holistic evolution in organisations, doctrine, strategy and tactics.

•   Legal Aspects of Warfighting. We also need to invest in legal aspects of war fighting which are often ignored or do not get due attention.                                                                                                                                  

•   IACCS. Indigenous IACCS of Indian Air Force in its 10 years of operations and in quite robust. Phase 5 would be implemented now. Trigun and Akash Teer projects of Sister services when linked to this system will enhance NCW capability of the Services hence, must be pursued actively.

•   Slow Modernisation. One major challenge is to use the legacy system along with modern equipment. The industry, academia and services have to find an answer to this challenge.

•   Upgradable Systems. Technology upgrades faster than we acquire systems. Therefore, we need to draw a line up what we can absorb and implement and periodically upgrade, say in 5 or 10 years, to reap the benefit of the changing technology.

•   An incremental and evolutionary approach is required in NCW where end state cannot be defined since it is always evolving but, our efforts must be measurable to stay on course towards our goal.

• Role of EW. Dominance in frequency spectrum would aid in gaining advantage over the adversary in the land, sea and air and space domains.

•  ISTAR Development. Integrated Surveillance Targeting and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) under development by DRDO, with close interaction with IAF, utilises several high technologies for offensive and defensive roles in one platform. All three Services must be involved in the project at this stage of evolution, especially since the system identifies surface targets.

•  Possible Naval Role for ISTAR. Inclusion of additional sensors like anomaly detector, pollution detector and AIS in ISTAR will broaden its employment potential in naval role.

•   Broader Exploitation of ISTAR. ISTAR should have seamless integration with other national intelligence networks for gauging the intent and moves of the adversary. The potential of ISTAR for broader exploitation should be examined.

•   Use of Aerostats. Aerostats have been used by the IAF for surveillance. Other Services can examine their employment with due consideration of disadvantages like vulnerability, blind zone, limited employment in mountains, shorter life and endurance.

•  AWACS. It provides immense force multiplier capability. However, it remains a lucrative target using LR SAMs and LR Anti radiation missiles. The number of AWACS required would depend on the expanse of op area needing coverage.

•  C4I2 Requirement for the TBA. To implement the C4I2, we need robust, secure, high bandwidth wireless communication for formations particularly in the TBA due to requirements of mobility. Apart from the common standards, formats and protocols, joint encryption, mission specific applications, the bandwidth requirement of the communication is vital and must be ensured. Systems with self healing capability are required for the TBA.

•  GIS, AI and Robotics. Common Geographic information for the three Services is vital and should be prioritised.

•   Wargaming and Simulation. The robustness and the reliability of the communication systems can be tested in realistic wargaming and simulation exercises.

•   Situational Awareness Model for the Indian Navy. DRDO has developed Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) for the Indian Navy, followed by Indian Navy Situational Awareness System (INSAS) and finally by 2027, Navy aims to develop Indian Navy Common Operating Picture (INCOP) with many more analytic features using new technologies and communication systems. With these developments DRDO and Indian Navy have shown the way for indigenisation for the other Services to emulate.

•   In TBA, three services besides their inherent conceptual variances use varied types of legacy and IP based modern communications. The communications are static, deployable and mobile. It is recommended to check the efficacy and status of integration in operations and test bed to identify variances and then find solutions to integration challenges.

•   Info, Data and Big Data Challenges. The big tech companies while serving our communication needs, also pose challenge to our security since the data collected by them is stored beyond the national boundaries, thus, beyond the purview and jurisdiction of national law. This opens possibilities of its misuse which is inimical to our sovereignty, national and security interests. Hence, the data sourced with in the country must be stored with in the country so that these remain under the purview of our law enforcement agencies.

•   Security. With increase in digitisation in defence, the threats too proportionally have increased in this domain. Therefore, communication products and contents must be sourced from the trusted sources only.

•   Space Domination. Space situational awareness is vital for collision avoidance as well as to keep an eye on developing threats in the space domain. While collision avoidance would be ensured by ISRO, the threatening satellite or anti-satellite activity is the domain of the defence. Optimum solution for generating required warning / data is vital for both. The first step towards this is building of robust SSA.              .

•   Space Observation/Surveillance. To enhance security, we need to enhance our observation in the area of interest with dedicated capabilities at LEO.

•   Vulnerability of Satcom. Satellite communication is vulnerable to external interference at various levels i.e., at satellite level, in command-and-control link as well as its ground infralstructure. Such attacks/ interferences are difficult to attribute to an adversary. Hence, the diversity and robustness of satellites and its infrastructure is vital.

•   Quantum Comn. Unlike other forms of comn, which remain vulnerable, the quantum communication will ensure secure military communication. Several countries are engaged in the research in the field, eg, China and US have achieved considerable success. Indian defence forces, too, should not lag behind. DRDO (young scientist laboratory) is following a road map and is moving ahead with research in this new area comprising several applications.

•   Relevance of 5 GTechnology in the Armed

contd on page 48

contd from page 46

Forces. 5G will enable monitoring, collation and present relevant data of all activities for better coordination and informed decision taking of high order. Thus, it acts as a force multiplier. It will facilitate transition from old archaic procedures to new processes, increasing efficiency of the defence systems. Armed forces require low to high frequency bands from below 3GHZ band to above 6GHZ band to cover all operations. Dedicated specialist teams should be established to interact with the industry and monitor progress of rolling of 5 G in the armed forces for various facets of its use.              

•   Reducing Cost of Military logistics through IOT. The use of the emerging technology will overcome challenges and bring in transparency, reliability efficiency and decision making with use of less man-hours. Following actions will help to implement use of technology in logistics:-

(i)            Institute inhouse system studies to explore potential use of IOT and Blockchain.

(ii)           Standardize protocols for data sharing.

(iii)          Nominate lead agencies as per domain expertise.

(iv)         Earmark test beds and evaluate.

(v)          Expand scope throughout the organisation.

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The need of the hour is to be strong. China respects strength and we are strong, but we need to look at the realities and how technology is moving. We need to identify areas in which we must move forward and really take domination of aerospace to the next level.

We have the ability to dominate today at the time of choosing but the definition of domination, the extent of it and everything concerning operations is moving rapidly. Therefore, I think the single most important issue that is being discussed now – networking, digitization, the ability to shorten the loop – whichever way you put it – is the most important issue. While I will not be able to go into the depth of many of the issues, where we are and what we have done, I will address issues as far as the Air Force is concerned, and what we need to do.

I will share with you my experience in building important networks having a bearing on war waging capability and the way forward in achieving enhanced domination of air space.

Keeping Pace

First, we need to integrate much more and, second, we need to move forward rapidly. The digitization scenario is changing very rapidly. Our basic structures in our procurement, decision-making, the way we integrate, the time we take, how the industry moves, how we ourselves move – all these need to be looked at. We cannot have open-ended timelines, we need to move fast and we need to absorb. While technology is being absorbed we should look at the next level straight away. What you implement today, will be good for the next two to three years. We should always be moving to the next level. So that is the background with which I would like to start.

Integration is the Key

Air Space domination implies being able to rapidly and accurately engage all targets while they are mobile or static, in the air, on land, over the sea, in a chosen time space. To achieve this capability, integration of all available airborne platforms, ground-based weapon systems and decision grade in particular, is essential. I think the decision-grade is something we tend to miss out or not implement in full. We are well aware that the process of transforming linear decision-making process into a well integrated information and knowledge-based network is the basic essence of digitization in terms of direction it should take in the armed forces.

Shortening the OODA Cycle

Infusion of information technology (IT) at the turn of the century ushered in a revolution in military affairs (RMA), that went on to fundamentally alter the nature of warfighting. Now network-centric capability seamlessly fuses all elements of war fighting to create a very high level of battlefield awareness that can be and should be effectively exploited to dominate operations in that area. The key components of these capabilities are the sensors, such as radar, ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance) platforms, AWACS (airborne warning and control system), satellites, etc. The shooters, both manned and unmanned and the decision makers in the loop control the air battle at all levels starting from the tactical level or the individual level in the cockpit or the combat system right up to the formations and back to the decision makers on the ground. This synergy is critical to compress the OODA – observe, orient, decide and act – cycle and this is really the essence as far as our ability to dominate is concerned. In air wars, it would apply simultaneously in parallel layers – the pilot in the cockpit who is handling the threats or the targets to the formation in parallel. The formation leader would be taking decisions in the entire area in which air battle manager would be taking parallel decisions. Also going backwards to Command HQ or commands whose assets are deployed in the air war that is going on in that area – to the extent that between Commands and Air HQs, in parallel, seamless thinking and decision-making in terms of real time results and how that particular battle changes the scenario to the next one or the parallel one. So, the whole scheme of things needs to move fast and whoever can do that better would win the situation. As you are all aware air power application is not only time sensitive but inherently escalatory in nature particularly in No War No Peace scenario and that is also to be kept in mind.

Digitisation Facilitates Flexibility

All this mandates high level of visibility into battle space to enable commanders to take quick and accurate decisions that will ensure that the campaign achieves the desired level. It is for these reasons that air operations, in particular, are planned centralized and executed decentralized. That is the way the Air Force functions and we have the capability to plan and execute from one location or two locations in parallel. We can today conduct operations, for example, from Delhi across many commands and bring to bear the assets onto one area or chosen areas as we decide. It need not be from Delhi, the same can be done from a location somewhere else. That is the flexibility and capability that digitization and networking brings, provided we integrate it and correctly incorporate it into our operational systems and thinking. Complete visibility of plans accords very high degree of flexibility at the operational level. It also effects dynamic changes which are in play in shifting air battle. Thus, real time decision-making such as rerouting fighter aircraft to destroy alternative targets or more important targets, or dynamic switching of roles of the force in the air to cater to any emerging enemy threat is a norm even today rather than an exception. This needs to become the high point of our ability in network-centric operations in the future.

NCW Projects

With aerospace sector being highly technology intensive, I have been on the path of transformation towards network-centric warfare (NCW) capability for over a decade. The process protocol started way back in 2006, when pan-India multi-protocol level optical system with modern IT-based technology came into effect. Based on this the AFNET, the backbone of Air Force was founded, which provided us an ultra high-speed communication and real time data sharing. What we started then has fructified today pan-India. But having done that, what we need to do now is to modify and to upgrade it at pace that has to be much faster. The success and lessons of the AFNET project laid the base for the next evolutionary step, which involved integration and networking of our sensors, progress towards processing capabilities, and keeping the IT infrastructure abreast of requirements. This has been achieved by integrating all the sensors like long range radars, AWACS and including civil service radars, aerostats and satellites, which empowers the Air Force to dominate an area, firstly with the information about the area, thereafter with our assets. The evolution of IACCS (Integrated Air Command & Control System), which is a C4I element has resulted in seamless air space surveillance capability. Now, AI and automation has shortened the sensor to shooter loop making targeting highly responsive as it has added another layer on top of it. We need to look at these hybrid systems and other advancements that have made decision-making faster and dynamic targeting a reality today.  

ALSO READ: DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION – Transformation For Future War

Combat planning and automated decision-making is being developed in-house by the IAF, which will integrate air campaign planning and execution, including war gaming. This is something that we have launched this year, which will again pave the way for really being networked. Such initiatives in operations is the only way to automate the battlefield functions of tactical echelons and then establish an integrated command management system. Concurrently, we have also been actively partnering with industry to expand our digitization and automation footprint across multiple domains, which indirectly enhances our capability to undertake operations. A leading IT firm, Wipro, has developed an electronics maintenance management system (EMMS) and it has been successful. IACCS has done very well and EMMS has now become one of the world’s largest maintenance management systems with complete digital workflow across all platforms of the IAF. This is already fructified today. This is the pace with at which we have moved fortunately with indigenous industry. Our predecessors took that call and that is the only way you can keep your information secure and have the ability to make amends and modifications. Likewise, our e-governance projects, which have undertaken, will achieve enhanced automation and paperless workflow by this year end on nearly on all operational, administrative and maintenance related activities in the IAF.

Tri-Services Integration

Tri-Services integration is the next logical step in this evolution of information centric warfare. Individual service specific C4i systems are already in place. We need to construct joint and integrated C4I systems. Convergence of tactical data system, which automates the process of situational awareness and information across the entire battlespace is a key requirement. One of the challenges in such integration is the development of information islands within each Service with a robust security mechanism – and this is important – because the moment you digitize, vulnerability on security front needs to be really tight. We can share a lot on this in terms of our own experience. These information islands can be overlaid on a common tri-Service grid and serve to provide the requisite data without causing information overload. To this end the NFS is one such medium of convergence while we try to have tri-Service network capability.

Lessons Learnt

While the IAF has made considerable strides in its quest for dominating the information and networking domain, I would like to dwell on a few important lessons also which we have learnt in our journey.

First and foremost is the fact that frequent software and hardware changes have a negative impact on the transformation efforts. And the hardware changes fast. We really have to be a little visionary in the process – what we choose and how fast we do. We need to formulate a process that organizations requirements across destroying individual weapon systems, integrating systems such as EWO or common degree platforms (which we have done recently) but has led us to reverse engineer systems due to incompatibility with other systems. This is one of the major lessons from the recent past, which we have learnt. This would increase when we try to integrate many other different legacy systems. Policies and process of digitization or automation must lead to balance in developing systems that leverage the latest and best technology while having systems that are stable and combat ready.

ALSO READ: Future Military Technologies : Gen MM Naravane on Changing Characteristics of Warfare

Second major lesson is in the area of software development life cycle itself. I already mentioned that this is an area that needs to move fast and I think that the strength is that if you follow the indigenous route it will give strength to move faster. The industry also needs to recognize this and have a shorter loop in terms of their own decision-making and have a little more open-minded approach towards the requirements. With the operational urgency to develop or digitize products we invariably employ the standard spiral model, which has resulted in faster building of software but which comes with a new set of problems. To provide users with software, equipment with critical points, developers are often forced to release software before perfection and then continually field upgrades. We have seen this in many projects. At times it is also for cutting costs, which is just too bad and these are the issues the industry needs to handle. A better approach would be to decide on what we call software drops so that unwanted features are identified mutually and cut out on the development side.

Cyber Defence

In the cyber domain, though we have moved towards the Defence Cyber Agency, DSA and Service specific cyber groups, we still need to walk a good distance ahead to achieve all our operational objectives. A lot of work has started in this area too. As military communications, sensing, logistics, maintenance and C2I has increasingly been digitized and inter-connected, cyber defence has become a vital element of enhancing the digital capabilities of our forces and networks. Our aerospace systems and information systems are increasingly inter-twined and, hence, the potential of cyber attack is huge. More importantly, the potential of real time damage is huge. For example, the Conflicker worm attack in 2009, led to short term grounding of the Rafale fleet. If it happens at the wrong time, it can be critical. This is the scenario that needs to be avoided at all costs.

Emerging Technologies

Most of our systems are moving ahead and we have invested towards technological advancements, such as software defined networking. The Air Force is doing a lot in AI. Many of our systems and their integration is shortening the timeframe of analysis, particularly through Big Data analytics in EW. There are emerging technologies like quantum computing which we need to look at. Some of you may be aware that Google is already building a quantum computer to accomplish a task in 200 seconds what the fastest computer available today will take 10,000 years. This is what we are talking about in the years to come. While quantum computing is still is the nascent stage, with respect to military applications, we must see the technology both as an enabler or disrupter in the near future. China is investing large amount in such technologies. This is an area that we need to look at as a nation.

In these emergent technologies, it is only through a national effort that we can keep pace and not be left behind. The industry really has to look at the future carefully, leapfrog and catch up in these fields and build our networking ability so that we can dominate the areas we want.

Operational Fallback Systems

Finally, while digitization is the need of the hour, any lasting solution must go beyond basic network connectivity and cyber security. That is just the basic requirement. Also, defence planners need to maintain a backup, analog or appropriate systems in order to ensure minimum operational capacity, in case of digital blackouts or disruption due to cyber attacks. This is very critical area. Before we take up any networking project, there has to be an operational fallback option. It should nothappen that we depend on networks to such an extent that lack of network or operational fallback disrupts our ability to dominate. If we are not careful this can easily happen.

We need to enable our leaders to have a deep understanding of the warfare in the context of information. Manning digitized environments presents a major challenge in military eco system as we are forced to compete with private sector for qualified young men and women. We are still not self-reliant in terms of IT infrastructure with hardware being dominated by China and operating systems being dominated by US. However, we can offset the same by efficient programming, coding and developing of algorithms. This is an area that should become our strength, apart from taking some long-term look and calls on issues of software and hardware towards our applications itself, both in the industrial and military domains. This is one area that can propel us into network domination in the future.

Extract from a talk by Air Chief Mshl RKS Bhadauria given at an IMR webinar on Digitisation and Networking in the Armed Forces on 23 Nov 2020. Transcribed by Prithish Roy.

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Military and civil radars are being increasingly co-located in various parts of the country to provide seamless control of respective airspaces.

Integrated Air Command Control Communications System

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Sovereignty and Winnability of wars hinge on defence digitisation. Warfare is changing and so are the threats, especially for India and there are collusive threats from neighbouring nations, border intrusions across terrestrial borders and the new phenomenon of multi-front warfare spanning borders, electronic and cyber domains. Armed forces across the world are digitalising and building network-centric defence ecosystems to bolster combat readiness, modernise battlefield operations, and build strategic deterrence.

There needs to be seamless flow of information, data based decision-making and tight security protocols at the network level.

Keeping in mind the impact of new technologies on warfare as proved by recent conflicts, the Armed Forces are undertaking “Digitisation and Networking” with the latest technologies providing for efficient communication networks, effective network-centric operations, C4ISR, Decision Support Systems, all addressing Info, Data and Big Data challenges and vulnerabilities.

The move toward network-centric warfare ability includes use of dedicated satellites, special optic fibre networks allowing real time data and communication. The key is Integrated Communication & Control; Situational awareness & Common Operational Picture; Communication for Kinetic Operations; Evolved Cyber and Space prowess; and Collaboration between tri-Services.

The Defence Space Agency and Defence Cyber Agency will facilitate this integration.

The needs of the three Services vary. The IAF and Navy need network centricity the most. AFNET, on which will rides the IACCS providing connectivity between all the airborne platforms and ground platforms, integrates the ability to use data and images in real time across many battlefields.

The Navy’s, newer communication tools allow warships to see real time information of what is happening in say Karachi or in Malacca Straits or even over the  South China Sea.

The Army needs tactical information on ground for which UAVs and other sensors beam live pictures and provide geo-locations of targets for engagement. 

Digitisation Imperatives

Enabling C4ISR – command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance –  is the essence of digitisation of the battlefield in all domains. Command and Control, Fire Control and Combat Support Systems are warfighting facilities that will provide accurate and real-time combat support information to the CDS, the Theater Commanders, Task Force Commanders and other commanders at various levels as needed. The Service Chiefs and the heads of support services such as Supplies, Transportation, Ordnance Stores, equipment, ammunition, Repair and maintenance facilities, etc., will also be utilising the facility.

A robust and a secure communication infrastructure, sensors, interoperable systems are all mandatory for creating a digitised battlefield environment. Sensors covering the whole spectrum of the battle space to include thermal, infrared, sound and electromagnetic sensors, aerial photography, digital satellite, surveillance and reconnaissance systems, mounted in various platforms such as spacecraft, UAVs, aircrafts, land vehicles, ships, and personal battlefield systems combined with other sources of information will fuse information which is an essential dimension of situational awareness.

Digitisation will  facilitate exercise of command, instant grouping and regrouping in inter-Services environment, provide commanders a clear picture of the operational situation, logistics monitoring, concentration of fire power from widely separated weapon platforms and assets of all the three Services, multidimensional coordination of joint operations and substitutes long-winded voice communication with real time data including imageries.

India already has expansive and secure defence networks across the three Services, but some are decades old and need to be upgraded in view of the changing scenario. There is an urgent need to unify, fortify, and modernise country’s defence networks with Interoperability of Networks, Technology-led security solutions, and Cyber security architecture.

New Technologies

The defence sector should adopting digital technologies like IoT, AI, Big Data, and AR/VR in an effort to bring out more efficiency to military missions, automate operations, improve precision attacks and reduce casualties and collateral damage.

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