Virtual Reality (VR), often projected as a future state of current tech improvisation, is, on the contrary, one of the earliest tech experiments of previous century. It’s a product of the Postwar phase, which in many ways, was haunted by the fear of mind control and counter-control obsessions! It was a time when on one hand, the psychologists were experimenting with their ‘controlled’ feedback methods, behaviourists were formulating and propagating their behaviour modification theories, and the cybernauts of the Valley (backed by the US military) were designing and developing digital realities in their labs and novelists/sci-fi writers were painting those wild imaginations with the metallic flavour of modern paranoia (for ordinary people), all at the same time! If those plans would have succeeded, the dystopian tech future would have arrived by now!

So, what happened then? What stopped such well-laid-out plans halfway?

Well, one can say that the Virtual Reality plans faced a reality check. The fuel to run the engine was missing! In the absence of mass reach of the internet and Data, the attempts to produce a low-cost, blockbuster version of VR products could not succeed! While on one side, Virtual Reality, as an idea and product, was itself in its immature state, on the other side, the perfect ‘fertility’ of human minds, their massive ‘engagement’ on screens, and needed universal ‘mindset’ shift cum acceptance, was entirely absent. A behavioural change process (which lasted a few decades) with enormous strategic patience was needed to reach the state we see today!

“VR scientists are the illusionists of science; we’re honest when we tell you we’re fooling you, and you should take us seriously when we point out that we’re not the only ones.”

(Jaron Lanier, “Dawn of the New Everything: Encounters with Reality and Virtual Reality,” 2017)

To probe the limits of present-day Virtual Reality gadgets and their abilities to measure human imaginations, we must first explore the real fuel that runs these ‘Imagineering’ platforms and VR engines!

The Idea of ‘Data’

Can the platforms that run behavioural algorithms on people’s screens in an ‘auto’ mode, manipulate the choice of their ‘users’ with precisely targeted dopamine content, see the ‘privacy’ of their consumers as a commodity that can be bought or sold to anonymous entities, facilitates networks of online scammers and shifts the entire burden of ‘responsibility/accountability’ on their subscribers (on the click of a button) and for whom any ‘intervention’ in this process by the democratically elected governments/ institutions, is a violation to their ‘rights’ to leverage this exclusive edge, could ever be inspired to make some behavioural changes in their approach to Data, Privacy, and Rights of their Users? These were perhaps some of the big questions before the drafters of the Digital Personal Data Protection Bill 2023 of Bharat, which is now an act.

“This law will start an era of responsible and accountable behaviour by data fiduciaries to maintain and protect citizen’s digital privacy” said Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar.

The debate around Data, Privacy, and Protection is long and interesting. Over the last few years, several jargons related to the idea of ‘Data’ were launched, and many have attempted to equate the term with the ‘New Oil’ and ‘New Gold’ kind of abstract definitions to highlight its ever-growing value/influence in our life!

One of the biggest ironies of ‘Data’ is that it often comes from people who have been told that they are going to be obsolete or replaced by the same machines that this Data fuels, and yet they are addicted/trapped to an extent, that they keep feeding these systems, pleasantly and voluntarily! According to some rough estimates, on average, routine internet users produce some 2.5 quintillion bytes of data every day (a quintillion is equal to number 10 raised to the power 18).

“The fate of information in the typically American world is to become something which can be bought or sold”

–Norbert Wiener, The Human Use of Human Beings (1950)

Data is ‘Power’

Back in 2021, at the World Economic Forum (WEF) gathering, Russian President Vladimir Putin highlighted the digital giants’ increasing intervention in the social, economic, and political systems of the world, and he mentioned that: “In some areas, they are de facto competing with states.” Then he went a step further and asked the gathering, “Where is the border between successful global business, in-demand services, and big data consolidation and the attempts to manage society at one’s own discretion, and in a tough manner, replace legal democratic institutions and essentially usurp or restrict the natural right of people to decide for themselves how to live, what to choose and what position to express freely?”

These are undoubtedly the dominant questions of this century. And today, it seems that words like Data and Big Data have become some of the biggest fallacies of our time, more deceptive than Russian Maskirovka itself! Ask a normal user of the internet what’s the meaning of these popular terms like Data and Big Data, and they will reply promptly ‘Information,’ without realizing that it is this Data cum information which is capable of electing the governments, destabilizing the political system, crashing the businesses/markets, disrupting the socio-economic environment, and winning the battles (not just of narration but physical too)!

In a nutshell, today the idea of Data has become a synonym for ‘Power,’ the source of unlimited/unrestricted Power! And to know where this power currently resides and who controls it, one needs to go no further but to see the list of the world’s top 10 tech giants, and their home countries (and there is not a single Indian IT company in that list)!

Now the question is if data is Power, then some amount of thrill, hallucination, and control it must have produced! So, what does a mix of all that look like, and where is the Real playground?

Virtual World (आभासी दुनिया)

The word ‘Virtual’ means आभासी in Hindi. Something that one can sense and interact with but which does not exist in any physical form. Now the question is how can one perceive or sense something that doesn’t exist?

There are two possible ways/approaches that exist (except addictive drugs) to sense the Virtual World: One is via gadgets and devices as propagated by the Western world, and another is through ancient and timeless practices like yoga and meditation that belong to Bharat.

Western Approach (Open Eyes, Closed Mind)

“People’s perceptions are filtered through their emotions; they tend to interpret the world according to what they want to see. Feed their expectations, manufacture a reality to match their desires, and they will fool themselves.”

(American author Robert Greene, The 33 Strategies of War)

Western approach to the Virtual World is often reflected in the smart gadgets and devices we see around, from smartphones to VR headsets/glasses to the whole ecosystem of the online world. All these tech improvisations attempt to offer a prescription of some reality, mixed with pleasure, entertainment, and fun, in a highly simulated environment (like an improvised version of Skinner Box), which slowly starts inducing a bit of doubt, mistrust, and moral weakness to their consumers and ultimately reduces their intellect and imaginations to an extent that even a small electronic gadget in their hand, appear them more superior to themselves!

Why such an approach is necessary? Because a human mind with its cognitive abilities/characteristics, can never surrender to a prescribed and forced tomorrow! He will ask questions, seek answers, use his ‘Free Will,’ and trade a path of his own (something not fit for their future visuals of control). That’s why they have based their approach on a simple notion – “Control people’s perceptions of reality, and you control them!”

Cyberdelics and Cyberpunks – Some Background

Back in the 1990s, while presenting the demo of his Virtual Reality Glove, called the ‘Data Glove,’ Jaron Lanier, the inventor of VR, said: “Well this is our virtual reality glove, it’s called the data glove and the idea is that you can put on this glove and the glove lets you feel a world that doesn’t exist,” then he put on his VR headset called ‘eyephone’ and said: “these are the special glasses called the eye phones that you put on and when you put them on you’re seeing inside an imaginary world instead of inside the physical world,” so the idea is that “by wearing computerized clothing right over your sense organs you transport your sensory system into a reality that can be of any description.”

In its initial phases, VR (Virtual Reality) was largely seen as an alternative to LSD kind of psychedelic drugs. In countries like the USA, there existed an impression that VR clothing (gloves, eyephones, and data suits) and gadgets designed to offer the same sensory response, pleasure, and experiences that LSD offers, or something that one can feel during the Lucid Dreaming! Several research papers have been published to highlight the commonalities between the two- LSD and VR.

American psychologist and a leading advocate for LSD, Timothy Leary famously argued that ‘cyberdelics’ – the fusion of psychedelic drugs and cyberculture – could reprogram the human mind! In the 1980s he became the spokesperson of the ‘Cyberdelic counterculture,’ whose followers called themselves ‘Cyberpunks’ as they were philosophical promoters of personal computers (PC), internet, and immersive virtual reality (VR). Leary went to the extent that once he proclaimed that the “PC is the LSD of the 1990s” and changed his popular phrase “turn on, tune in, drop out” to “turn on, boot up, and jack in. .”

The creator of the first VR experiment, Jaron Lanier, also highlighted this aspect in his book “Dawn of the New Everything: Encounters with Reality and Virtual Reality (2017)”: “VR is sometimes compared to LSD, but VR users can share a world objectively, even if it’s fantastical, while LSD users cannot…it will be like riding a bike, not a roller-coaster ride.”

It is interesting that some of the future plans of Silicon Valley’s leading voices sound more like the SMI2LE vision (an acronym for space migration, intelligence increase, and life extension) of Timothy Leary! And today, if someone searches for VR kind of stuff online, he/she will end up receiving different psychedelic visual compilations (in music and animation video forms), with titles like “Live LSD simulation” or some XYZ “trip” experiences, etc!

To sum up, this is the overall Western idea of the ‘Virtual World,’ which is packaged and advertised as VR products!

Is it wise to let a limited idea or narrow vision dictate the course of future technology? There exists a completely different approach to Virtual World, and it belongs to Bharat.

Part 2: The Bhartiya Approach

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Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML): AI and ML are expected to be increasingly used to improve decision-making, target identification, and battlefield awareness. They could also be used to develop autonomous weapons, which could make warfare more efficient and less reliant on human decision-making.

Autonomous Systems: Unmanned aerial and ground vehicles, as well as underwater drones, are expected to become more prevalent on the battlefield. These systems could be used for reconnaissance, surveillance, and other military tasks, and could greatly enhance the capabilities of military forces.

Directed Energy Weapons (DEW): Lasers and microwave weapons are expected to become more powerful and more widely used in warfare. These weapons could be used to disable or destroy targets at a distance, and could greatly enhance the capabilities of military forces.

Quantum Technology: Quantum computing, quantum communication and quantum encryption are expected to play a major role in future warfare. They could be used to develop more powerful and secure communication systems, as well as to improve intelligence gathering and analysis.

Cybersecurity: As more military systems become connected to the internet, protecting them from cyberattacks will become increasingly important. Emerging technologies such as blockchain and quantum-resistant cryptography are expected to play a key role in securing military networks and systems.

Robotics and Drones: Robotics and drones are expected to play a more prominent role in future warfare, they could be used for reconnaissance, surveillance, and other military tasks including search and rescue, reconnaissance, and explosive ordnance disposal.

Augmented and Virtual Reality (AR/VR): AR/VR are likely to be used for training, simulation, and for enhancing the situational awareness of soldiers on the battlefield.

Hypersonic Weapons: These are missiles that travel at speeds above Mach 5 and can evade traditional missile defense systems.

Space-based Assets: Satellites are being used for a variety of military purposes, including communication, navigation, and intelligence gathering.

Autonomous Systems

India has been actively working on developing autonomous systems and Robotics for defence purposes.

Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS). The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has been developing various UAS for reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition. DRDO’s unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) Rustom-2 can be used for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions.

Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGVs). DRDO has been developing UGVs for a variety of tasks, including explosive ordnance disposal and reconnaissance. DRDO’s UGV named Daksh is capable of handling Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). A Minefield Breaching System (MBS) has also been developed, which can be used to clear minefields and other explosive hazards.

Autonomous Naval Systems. Autonomous surface and underwater vehicles for naval applications such as mine countermeasures, anti-submarine warfare, and surveillance are under development. Indian Navy has developed an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle named AUV-62.

Autonomous Weapon Systems. DRDO has been working on autonomous weapon systems for use in air, land and naval defence. These systems are intended to improve decision-making and target identification.

Humanoid Robots. DRDO is also researching the development of humanoid robots for military and civilian applications.

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

AI and ML technologies are being used to improve decision-making, target identification and tracking, predictive maintenance and cybersecurity.

AI-based Decision Support Systems. The Indian armed forces are using AI-based decision support systems to improve situational awareness and decision-making on the battlefield. The Indian Army has developed an AI-based decision support system called the Tactical Control and Analysis System (TCAS).

ML-based Target Identification and Tracking. DRDO has been working on developing ML-based systems for target identification and tracking, for use in air and missile defence. DRDO has developed an ML-based system for tracking and identifying aircraft and missiles, called the Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS).

AI-based Predictive Maintenance. India’s armed forces are using AI-based predictive maintenance systems to improve the maintenance of weapons and equipment. The Indian Navy has developed an AI-based predictive maintenance system called the Automatic Maintenance Management System (AMMS).

AI-based Cyber Security. AI and ML has been in use to improve cybersecurity, including intrusion detection and response, and threat intelligence.

AI-based Autonomous Systems. DRDO is been researching the use of AI to improve the autonomy and decision-making capabilities of unmanned systems, including UAVs and UGVs.

Hypersonic Weapons

India is actively researching and developing hypersonic weapons technology, including the Hypersonic Technology Demonstration Vehicle (HSTDV), the BrahMos-II missile, and the Hypersonic Air-breathing Weapon Concept (HAWC). India has also successfully tested a hypersonic scramjet engine, which is a key technology for hypersonic propulsion.

HSTDV can be used to test and validate hypersonic propulsion technologies. BrahMos-II is an upgraded version of BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, designed to be able to travel at hypersonic speeds. HAWC will be a new class of missile that can travel at hypersonic speeds and carry conventional or nuclear payloads.

India has successfully tested a hypersonic scramjet engine. This technology will be used to power the HSTDV and the HAWC.

Directed Energy Weapons

India is actively researching and developing directed energy weapons (DEW), such as high-energy laser systems and microwave weapons, for use in air and missile defense, electronic warfare, and communications.

High-energy Laser Systems. DRDO has been researching and developing high-energy laser systems to disable or destroy incoming missiles and aircraft. DRDO is also working on microwave weapons for use in electronic warfare. These weapons can be used to disrupt or damage electronic systems, such as radar and communications systems.

Laser-based Communication System. The Department of Space has been developing a laser-based communication system that uses a beam of laser light to transmit data through the atmosphere.

Solid-state Laser Technology. DRDO is also working on solid-state laser technology for use in high-energy laser systems.

Space-based Assets

India has been developing a variety of space-based assets for military use, including communication, navigation and reconnaissance satellites, military satellite launch vehicles and space-based early warning systems.

Communication Satellites. Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has developed a number of communication satellites that can be used for military and civilian purposes.

Navigation Satellites. ISRO has developed a regional satellite navigation system called NAVIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation) which provides accurate positioning and timing information for military and civilian use.

Reconnaissance Satellites. ISRO has developed a number of reconnaissance satellites that can be used for intelligence gathering, surveillance and reconnaissance. These include the Cartosat series of satellites which provide high-resolution imagery.

Military Satellite Launch Vehicles. The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) are used to launch military and civilian satellites into orbit.

Space-based Early Warning Systems. Space-based early warning systems is being developed to detect and track incoming ballistic missiles, and other potential threats to Indian airspace.

Quantum Communication and Quantum Computing

In summary, India is actively researching and developing Quantum communication and Quantum computing technology for defence applications, with a focus on Quantum key distribution, quantum computing, quantum random number generator, and quantum communication network. DRDO and Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Indian Institute of Science (IISc) have been leading the development of these technologies.

QKD uses the principles of quantum mechanics to generate and distribute cryptographic keys, making it extremely difficult to hack.

DRDO has been researching the use of quantum computing for cryptography, simulation and optimization. A quantum random number generator has been developed that can be used for cryptographic applications, such as key generation and encryption. Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) and Indian Institute of Science (IISc) are also actively researching and developing quantum computing technology.

Quantum Communication Network. DRDO is also researching the development of a quantum communication network that would be able to transmit information securely using quantum cryptography.

Critical Technologies for Next-gen Fighter Aircraft

Several critical technologies are required for military aerospace and next-gen fighter aircraft. These include:

• Stealth technology by reducing the radar cross-section of an aircraft to make it more difficult to detect by radar. This can be achieved through the use of advanced materials and shaping techniques.

• Avionics systems that can integrate and process a large amount of data from various sensors, including radar, infrared, and electronic warfare systems, to improve situational awareness and decision-making.

• Supersonic and hypersonic propulsion that enable aircraft to fly at supersonic or hypersonic speeds, greatly increasing their speed and range, as well as their ability to evade enemy defences.

• Directed energy weapons like laser and microwave weapons that can be used to disable or destroy enemy aircraft, missiles and other targets.

• The use of advanced materials, such as composites, that can withstand high temperatures and stresses, as well as structures that can withstand high-g manoeuvres are critical for next-generation fighter aircraft.

Complexities Involved in Development of Aeroengines

The development and manufacture of aeroengines is a complex and challenging process that involves a number of technical, logistical, and financial complexities. Some of the major complexities involved in this process include:

Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Techniques. Aeroengines are made from a variety of materials, including metals, ceramics, and composites, which must be engineered and manufactured to exacting tolerances to withstand the high temperatures, pressures, and loads encountered in flight.

Complex Design and Engineering. Aeroengines are highly complex systems that require advanced design and engineering techniques to optimize performance, efficiency, and reliability. This includes the use of computational fluid dynamics, finite element analysis, and other advanced simulation tools to model and optimize the engine’s performance.

High Development and Manufacturing Costs. Developing and manufacturing aeroengines is an extremely costly process, involving significant investments in research and development, engineering, testing, and production facilities.

Critical Technologies for Next-gen Armoured Fighting Vehicles

Some critical technologies for next generation armoured fighting vehicles include:

• Active protection systems (APS) which detect and intercept incoming projectiles before they can hit the vehicle.

• Advanced armour materials, such as ceramic and composite materials, that can provide better protection against high-powered weapons.

• Electric drive systems and hybrid powertrains to improve mobility and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.

• Advanced sensors and networking systems to improve situational awareness and communication among vehicles and with command and control centres.

• Autonomous capabilities such as autonomy and artificial intelligence to improve decision-making and reduce the risk to crew members.

• Stealth technology to reduce the vehicle’s detectability by enemy sensors.

• Laser weapons, directed energy weapons, to provide longer range and more precise firepower.

Critical Technologies for Next-gen Submarines

Next-gen submarines require some critical technologies as follows:

• Advanced stealth technology to reduce the submarine’s detectability by enemy sensors. This includes quieting systems for the propulsion, electrical and mechanical systems, as well as hull coatings and designs that minimize the submarine’s acoustic, magnetic and electromagnetic signatures.

• AIP (air-independent propulsion) systems that allow the submarine to operate for extended periods without surfacing. This can include fuel cells, closed-cycle diesel engines, or Stirling engines.

• Advanced sensors, including sonar systems, for improved underwater detection and classification of other vessels and submarines.

• Integrated communications and networking systems to improve the submarine’s command, control, and information-sharing capabilities.

• Hybrid electric drive propulsion system that allows extended low-speed operations and silent running, as well as increased range and endurance.

• In the case of next-gen frigates and destroyers, additional technologies, as follows, are required:

• Advanced propulsion systems, such as gas turbine or integrated electric drive, to improve the ship’s speed, range, and manoeuvrability.

•  Advanced sensors, including radar, sonar and electronic warfare systems, for improved situational awareness and threat detection.

• Integrated communications and networking systems to improve the ship’s command, control, and information-sharing capabilities.

• Advanced armour materials and active protection systems to improve the ship’s survivability against incoming projectiles.

Way Ahead

India is a significant player in the defence and aerospace industries, with a strong focus on developing advanced technologies. The country has a robust domestic defence industry, which produces a wide range of military equipment and weapons systems, including tanks, fighter jets, and warships. India also has a growing aerospace industry, with several major companies and research institutions including DRDO working on developing new technologies in areas such as satellite launch vehicles, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and hypersonic vehicles. Additionally, India has a strong tradition of scientific research, including in areas such as aerodynamics, propulsion, and materials science, which it is leveraging to develop advanced technologies for defence and aerospace applications.

To further enhance its capabilities and catch up with the world leaders in advanced technologies, India should increase investment in research and development; encourage collaboration and partnerships between its defence and aerospace companies, research institutions, and international partners; create a conducive policy environment (funding, tax incentives, and other benefits); increase indigenization with a focus on building capabilities in design, development, and production of defence equipment; and emphasize on education and training (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics).

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What is the wargame centre about?
The Wargame Research and Development Centre will be used by the Army to train its soldiers and test their strategies through “metaverse-enabled gameplay”. The wargame models will be designed to prepare for wars as well as counter-terror and counter-insurgency operations.

Where will the centre come up and when?
The centre will come up in a military zone in New Delhi, confirmed RRU officials privy to the development. The RRU will join hands with Tech Mahindra to develop the centre in the coming three to four months, officials added.

The RRU, an institute under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), specialises in national security and policing. Located in Gandhinagar’s Lavad village, it is an “institute of national importance” – a status granted to it by an Act of Parliament.

A team from the RRU will soon visit Delhi to get from the Army all the data it requires to begin work. The task has been assigned to faculty members from RRU’s School of Information Technology, Artificial Intelligence and Cyber Security.

“We already have a prototype lab for wargaming at our campus which was visited by Army officials recently. We have enhanced capabilities in the domains of artificial intelligence and cyber security. Our team will be visiting Delhi soon to begin work,” said the RRU official.

How will these simulation exercises play out?
Soldiers will test their skills in the metaverse where their surroundings will be simulated using a combination of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR).

“In metaverse, the players will get a realistic experience of the actual situation. If a weapon weighing 5 kg drops or the air pressure falls, they will feel it like anyone would in a live situation, real-time. The game would play out player versus player, player versus computer or even computer versus computer,” said an RRU official.

How will the centre help the Army?
The Army intends to use the wargame centre to train its officers in military strategies. According to RRU officials, the Army will provide data to set the backdrop of the gameplay, so that participants get a realistic experience.

“In Army, it is often said that the enemy can ambush you from 361 directions, where 360 sides are around the soldier, and one is above in case there is an airdrop. So, wargame simulation helps the Army think of all possible scenarios. Aspects such as slope of terrain, weather, time, air pressure, enemy surveillance reach, reach of artillery, the position of troops, soldier’s health and enemy’s reaction capabilities are all taken into account by the use of AI,” said the RRU official.

What promise does AI-based wargame simulation hold?
Apart from the armed forces, the BSF, CRPF, CISF, ITBP and SSB can also use the metaverse-enabled simulation exercises for better training.

The use of AI can provide a totally immersive training experience as it can simulate a battlefield close to reality and map several eventualities in the probable event of a war.

“For now, the centre will only be used by the Army but the intent is to develop it into a state-of-the-art research centre where other security agencies can also take part,” said the RRU official.

How many countries use such wargaming drills?
Since the 9/11 attacks, use of information technology-enabled wargaming is preferred by several countries like the US, Israel, the UK to prepare for possibilities in case of terror attacks or war.

In March 2014, several world leaders, including former German chancellor Angela Merkel, former US president Barack Obama and Chinese president Xi Jinping had played a war simulation game during the Hague Summit about how to react in case of a nuclear attack. In that case, the target of the nuclear attack was a fictional country named Brinia.

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The grants are to work on developing Augmented Reality (AR)-Virtual Reality (VR) solution for airplane mechanics, and a VR-based training simulator for helicopter pilots, within two years, as per the MoD mandate.

Bala’s AR/VR solution for airplane mechanics eliminates the need for the technicians to spend hours reading through manuals with thousands of lines of instructions. The solution will display relevant audio/visual cues for the technicians through smart glass to aid their repairing task.

Bala’s VR-based simulator will eliminate the need for a real helicopter for training and evaluation. The simulator will have a virtual cockpit environment to test various capabilities of pilots such as their emergency response and cognitive loads, serving as a highly economical and effective evaluation solution.

One of the focus areas of Aatral is ‘digital twin’ technologies that refer to virtual representation of physical objects or processes that would serve as the real-time digital environment especially for experiential learning.

Aatral has developed an industrial safety platform to create customised AR/VR training solutions for employees in construction, manufacturing and processing industries.

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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

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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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