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 Akash-NG

Flight trial of new generation Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) Akash-NG was conducted against a Banshee target from the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur, Odisha. It is meant for use by Indian Air Force (IAF) with the aim of intercepting high manoeuvring low RCS aerial threats. The system has been developed with better deployability compared to other similar systems with canisterised launcher and much smaller ground system footprint.

ITCM Missile

Indigenous Technology Cruise Missile (ITCM) is a new generation ‘Long Range Land Attack Cruise Missile’ being developed for land and sea platforms. Flight trial was conducted on 21 Feb 2023 form the ITR Balasore, Odisha.

Maiden test of ASTRA BVRAAM Missile

ASTRA is a state-of-the-art Beyond Visual Range ‘Air-to-Air missile’ to engage and destroy highly manoeuvring supersonic aerial targets. Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas, successfully fired the ASTRA indigenous BVR air-to-air missile.

Man-Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile

MPATGM is a 3rd generation ATGM with ‘Fire & Forget’ and ‘Top Attack’ capabilities with day and night operational capability. Flight trials of MPATGM was conducted for a range of 2.5 Km at NOAR, Kurnool.

ALSO READ: Laser-guided anti-tank missile successfully tested from Arjun tank

Very Short Range Air Defence System

VSHORADS is a 4th generation Man Portable Air Defence Research & Development system. It employs state-of-the-art uncooled imaging infrared seeker. The missile was flight-tested against high speed unmanned aerial targets, simulating approaching and receding aircraft from ITR Chandipur, off the coast of Odisha.

Medium Range Surface to Air Missile for Indian Navy

MRSAM for the Indian Navy is a joint development programme of DRDO and Israeli Aerospace Industries (IAI), Israel. The weapon system provides a point and area defence for P15A ships of the Indian Navy against a vast variety of aerial threats including fighter aircrafts, subsonic and supersonic missiles, etc. The Indian Navy successfully flight-tested MRSAM from Visakhapatnam.

Heavy Weight Torpedo

Indigenously Designed and Developed (IDD) Heavy Weight Torpedo ‘Varunastra’ was successfully test-fired with a live warhead against an undersea target by Indian Navy. ‘Varunastra’ is a ship-launched anti-submarine torpedo having low drift navigational systems, acoustic homing, advanced acoustic counter measure features, autonomous guidance algorithms, insensitive munitions warhead and a GPS-based recovery aid for practice torpedo.

Vertical Launch Short Range Surface to Air Missile

VL-SRSAM is a vertical launch short range surface to air missile having a strike range upto 80 km for Fighters aircraft, helicopter, UAVs, etc. The missile has been developed for the Indian Navy for neutralizing various aerial threats at close ranges including sea-skimming targets. The missile was flight tested from ITR Chandipur.

BrahMos

BrahMos is a two stage precision strike supersonic cruise missile, operating on fire and forget principle, which can be launched from multiple platforms (at air, sea and ground) against land and sea targets. Indian Army test-fired land attack version of extended range BrahMos supersonic cruise missile. Indian Navy with DRDO test-fired two consecutive sea attack version of extended range BrahMos supersonic cruise missile.

Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet Technology

The state-of-the-art air-to-air missile powered with ‘SFDR’ propulsion for Air Launched Tactical Missiles (ALTM) enables the missiles to intercept aerial threats at very long range at supersonic speeds and is configured with nozzle-less booster, thrust modulation system and sustainer to deliver specific impulse in ramjet mode. The missile was flight tested in 2023.

ALSO READ: India tests Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet technology missile

Long Range – Anti Ship Missile

DRDO is engaged in development of technologies required for Long Range Anti-Ship Missile weapon systems capable of engaging a warship with a long range. The missile was flight-tested from ITR.

Autonomous Flying Wing Technology Demonstrator

DRDO has successfully carried out a flight trial of Autonomous Flying Wing Technology Demonstrator, an indigenous high-speed flying-wing Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) from the Aeronautical Test Range, Chitradurga. With this flight in the tailless configuration, India has joined the elite club of countries to have mastered the controls for the flying wing technology. he aircraft prototype, with a complex arrowhead wing platform, is designed and manufactured with light-weight carbon composite material developed indigenously.

Integrated Life Support System

Indigenously designed and developed ILSS for pilot of LCA Tejas was flight-tested twice in February. The successful testing is an initial step to mark the country’s presence in elite club of four nations possessing the complex ILSS technology.

Military Combat Parachute System

A successful live parachute jump trial was conducted in April and September from 10,000 ft was successfully conducted at Drop Zone  Malpura, on indigenously-designed Military Combat Parachute System ‘HANS’ (High Altitude parachute with Navigation & advanced Sub-assemblies)’ to meet the military operational requirements of Indian Armed Forces. HANS enables Special Forces to undertake para jump along with all necessary combat sub-assemblies and will replace all existing systems for free fall operations.

Air Droppable Container

DRDO has designed and developed Air Droppable Container (ADC-150) with a pay load capacity of 150kg to enhance the naval operational logistic capabilities. ADC-150 will provide quick response to meet the requirement of critical engineering stores of ships under distress & far away from the coast. DRDO & Indian navy conducted the successful maiden test of ADC-150 dropped from IL38DF aircraft.

Crew Module Parachute System for Gaganyaan Programme

CMPS was successfully demonstrated In-flight Abort Demonstration of Crew Escape System with the newly developed Test Vehicle followed by Crew Module Separation & safe recovery using parachute system developed by DRDO.

Naval Anti-Ship Missile – Short Range

NASM-SR missile is powered by two stage solid propulsion system with an in-line ejectable booster and a long-burn sustainer. DRDO successfully flight tested the missile from ITR in November. The missile was tested for a range of 35 km, using an indigenous IR Seeker for its Terminal Guidance in ‘Lock-on after Launch’ mode.

Fuel Cell-based Air Independent Propulsion system

The system of DRDO’s Naval Materials Research Laboratory will soon be fitted onboard INS Kalvari. An agreement was signed between senior officials of NMRL and Naval Group France to extend cooperation to enter into the detailed design phase for integration of indigenous AIP in the Kalvari class submarines. As part of the agreement, Naval Group France will certify the AIP design for integration in the submarines. The AIP has a force multiplier effect on lethality of a diesel electric submarine as it enhances the submerged endurance by several folds.

Technology Development Fund

The TDF scheme encourages participation of public/private industries especially MSMEs and start-ups, so as to create an eco-system for enhancing cutting edge technology capability for defence application. Further, the Scheme funds industries up to an amount of Rs 50 crore per project for innovation, R&D of defence technologies in the field of defence and Aerospace.

Transfer of Technology

DRDO has carried out more than 1,600 ToTs to Indian Industry including both Private and public. ToT is being carried out as per the policy and procedure approved by   RM. DcPP/PA/DP of DRDO are given Technology free of cost i.e at “Nil ToT Fee”.

DRDO Patents

DRDO has a Policy for Free Access of DRDO Patents by Indian industries. This is likely to increase the technological capabilities of industries and enhance their competitiveness in global supply chain. 1,700 IPRs have been opened to Indian Industries.

Dare to Dream Innovation Contest

It aims to promote innovators and start-ups are being conducted. Three versions of contests have been concluded. Dare to Dream 4.0 was also launched in January for individual and Start-ups to unearth disruptive ideas and concepts in emerging technologies identified by DRDO for enhancing defence capabilities. Development cum Production Partner/ Production Agency identified for more than 105 systems.

Partnership with industry

DRDO has been partnering with industry for the realization of its systems. Collaborating with DRDO in the development of major weapon systems, the Indian industry has matured to a stage where they can develop systems on their own. Indian industry has progressed from a ‘build to print’ partner to ‘build to specification’ partner. DRDO test facilities have been opened to the industries for utilisation. Segments like Missiles, Bombs etc. have been opened to private industries for development.

Academia

DRDO provides support to academia to carry out directed research in the identified research areas through DRDO Industry Academia – Centres of Excellence to undertake translational  projects by providing direction, technical interactions and project funding. So far, 15 DIA-CoEs have been established. They are at IITs (BHU, Jodhpur, Kanpur, Roorkee, Kharagpur, Hyderabad, Delhi, Bombay, Madras), Gujarat University, IISC Bengaluru, Jammu University, Mizoram University, University of Hyderabad and  Bharathiar University.

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In a tweet, the DRDO said, “Very Short Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS) missile was successfully flight tested from a ground based portable launcher, off the coast of Odisha.”

The VSHORADS missiles were launched from a ground-based portable launcher at the Integrated Test Range (ITR) of the DRDO at Chandipur, off the coast of Odisha. The missile is a Man Portable Air Defence System (MANPAD) designed and developed indigenously by DRDO’s Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad in collaboration with other DRDO facilities and various Indian industry partners.

A press statement from the Ministry of Defence said the design of the missile, including launcher, has been highly optimised to ensure easy portability. “Both the flight tests have completely met the mission objectives,” the release stated.

Officials said the air defence missile incorporates many novel technologies including miniaturised Reaction Control System (RCS) and integrated avionics, which have been successfully tested during the trials. The missile has been designed to neutralise low altitude aerial threats at short ranges and is propelled by a dual thrust solid motor.

The MoD said Defence Minister Rajnath Singh complimented and appreciated the efforts of the DRDO and industry partners and said this new missile equipped with modern technologies will give further technological boost to the Armed Forces. DRDO Chairman Dr Samir V Kamat congratulated the entire VSHORADS team on the successful tests.

The post Very Short Range AD System Missiles Tested appeared first on IMR.

In a tweet, the DRDO said, “Very Short Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS) missile was successfully flight tested from a ground based portable launcher, off the coast of Odisha.”

The VSHORADS missiles were launched from a ground-based portable launcher at the Integrated Test Range (ITR) of the DRDO at Chandipur, off the coast of Odisha. The missile is a Man Portable Air Defence System (MANPAD) designed and developed indigenously by DRDO’s Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad in collaboration with other DRDO facilities and various Indian industry partners.

A press statement from the Ministry of Defence said the design of the missile, including launcher, has been highly optimised to ensure easy portability. “Both the flight tests have completely met the mission objectives,” the release stated.

Officials said the air defence missile incorporates many novel technologies including miniaturised Reaction Control System (RCS) and integrated avionics, which have been successfully tested during the trials. The missile has been designed to neutralise low altitude aerial threats at short ranges and is propelled by a dual thrust solid motor.

The MoD said Defence Minister Rajnath Singh complimented and appreciated the efforts of the DRDO and industry partners and said this new missile equipped with modern technologies will give further technological boost to the Armed Forces. DRDO Chairman Dr Samir V Kamat congratulated the entire VSHORADS team on the successful tests.

The post DRDO successfully tests Very Short Range Air Defence System missiles appeared first on IMR.

What have been the drivers which have propelled me to take up the project? Well, over the years, I always felt, that there is an abiding deficit of quality and researched reference material on the very many aspects of Ground Based Air Defence; though sporadic articles do appear in various professional journals by Subject Matter Experts. That was my first driver for putting before a discerning reader, a treasure- trove of information which a professional soldier in general and an air warrior on either side of the see-saw of attack and defence in particular, would like to fall back upon, in satiation of their multiple professional needs.

The other driver, of course, is the fulfilment of my own life’s dream, as I said. Starting from the humble beginnings of small snippets in small time magazines, slowly graduating to analytical and researched pieces in magazines of standing and repute-one wanted to take the next-pedestal of cumulating the humble efforts in the form of a book. The first break was provided by USI which published my first book on air defence issues. Duly emboldened by the success of this maiden endeavour; I ventured out to pen down a bigger and a more comprehensive work. This time around, the honour to provide a platform for my two-penny worth of effort was provided by Maj Gen RK Arora, Retd, CEO, IMR under the prestigious banner of IMR Media, to whom I express my most grateful thanks and indebtedness.

Getting to the book at hand, I have deliberately chosen the subject content applying the twin-tests of contemporary relevance, as well as, the prospect of further growth and development of the subject in the foreseeable future. I hope that my selection will match the expectations of the discerning reader cutting across the rank hierarchy and relating both to the ground soldier, as well as, a scholar air warrior.

The book opens with the celebration of the ‘Unmanned Revolution’; I call it a revolution because it is my sense that the `Unmanned Story’ riding on the twin wings of the UAVs and UCAVs is something whose time has come and whose place of prominence in the comity of aerial threat vehicles cannot be wished away. The book reviews the amazing evolutionary journey of these wonder machines starting way back from the end of Nineteenth Century working through the two Great Wars, the Cold War years, the Vietnam War, the Arab Israeli Conflict to the later years of Desert Storm, Bosnia, Kosovo right up to the contemporary Global War on Terror in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere. It highlights the many combat virtues of UAVs/UCAVs in terms of zero crew fatalities, no training deficit, incredible endurance, wide mission spectrum, open architecture, flexible mission payloads and and more. While the book flags the huge versatility of UAVs and UCAVs, it is also tries to expose its soft underbelly by bringing out the vulnerability of these machines when faced with a resolute air defence warrior equipped with hard and soft kill options. As to the face of the future, the book highlights the emerging research areas riding on nano-technology, robotics and AI, the exciting world of VTOL/SVTOL UAVs, liberation from the Ground Control Station, towards full vehicle autonomy, next generation morphing, the orinthropters, the arrival of SWARMIES and the growth of stealth in UAVs. In the context of bringing down a UAV, the book highlights the multiple challenges in terms of detection, much akin to finding a needle in the haystack, and killing the UAV optimally through hard / soft kill options, lest we end up killing a fly with a sledge hammer.

Coming to the contemporary and the futuristic scene in the UAV / UCAV domain, the book describes the latest concept of MUMT or Manned and Unmanned Teaming, wherein, the experts are trying to extract disproportionate gains by combining superior human intelligence, intuition, grit, tolerance for ambiguity and instant decision making capability of the combat pilot in manned platforms with the brute precision, range, stealth, endurance, immunity and versatility of the unmanned machine. Interestingly, what precipitates out of such teaming are conceptual issues that not only reside in the operational domain, but also in the ethical one. In this, the book tries to pose questions that still beckon for answers; the most pertinent being, ‘Are we ready for Machine over Man?” Probably, not as yet.

The book thereafter presents a comprehensive review of the subject of ‘Ballistic Missile Defence; Capabilities Across Nations and Where Technology is Leading to’. Essentially, an endeavour has been made to capture the nuances of the amazing growth journey of BMD starting from the ‘Era of Vengeance’ where Adolf Hitler’s V2 Rockets came screaming down from the upper atmosphere causing untold devastation on a hapless population to the current date when SSMs are crossing new and newer frontiers in range, reach, lethality and precision. While the defenders are busy in developing counters constituting the complex of Sensors, Shooters and Battle Control Systems, trying to take on the Ballistic Missiles from Terminal to Re-entry to Midcourse and to the yet dream destination of Boost Phase Engagement. Taking a global look, the Chapter describes how the leading BMD makers of the world are trying to synergize the sensor-shooter capabilities across multiple domains spanning across land, sea, air and space – the ultimate high ground. The Chapter also deliberates how the kill options in the BMD domain are moving from the conventional hard kill to electronic kill using High Power Microwaves or Charge Particle Beams trying to debilitate and incapacitate the incoming threat by concentrating on it a few hundred million electron volts of KE in a few seconds, thus destroying the integrity of the material mass of the incoming missiles or the thermal kill using the lasing medium to deliver a shock pulse of coherent beams instantly leading to thermal collapse of the target missile. This Chapter ends by building a hypothetical situation of the possible scenario of transition of capability from ASAT to BMD. In that, it is argued that since the leading space faring nations of the world (most notably, China in our case) have already developed and demonstrated ASAT capability, thus its metamorphosis into a BMD capability on the same scale is not a flight of fancy; it is an ominous reality.

The book then looks at the evolving domain of stealth and counter stealth. Picking up the thread from the days of German Horton Ho 229, which marked the arrival of stealth in the closing years of Second World War, the Chapter chronicles the continuous growth of the stealth concept on both sides of the fence, namely the attacker and the defender. Wearing the realities of Dollars vs Cents in the game of Stealth vs Counter Stealth, it is shown how in the long run, the possession and continous revamping of counter stealth capability will be more economically sustainable and will have lesser ethical burden than doing the same with offensive stealth. Exposing both sides of the coin, while the contents on one hand describe the cutting-edge technologies propelling the growth of stealth, on the other hand, they highlight how the defender is smarting up with enabling capabilities in the counter stealth domain. So while on one side are the RAMs, smart-skin technologies, plasma-driven stealth, the planform alignment and more, on the other side there is an amazing growth in passive sensing capabilities, use of lasers (LIDARs), Schilieren’s Photography and so on. Mention has also been made of the tremendous growth in sensor technology to defeat the Very Low Observable threat using VHF, C/X band radars, OTH radars, MIMO radars, LIDARs and CELLDARs etc stand explained. The Chapter ends in recognition and acknowledgement of the eternal cause effect cycle on both sides of the stealth continuum.

The next Chapter describes the emerging kill options in the air defence weapons of the future. In order to put the felt need in perspective, it starts off by highlighting the very many deficits of the Hard Kill option in terms of range, reach, altitude, reaction time, finite arsenal, response time and so on and how most of these can be overcome using the multiple advantages of the soft kill. It brings out how the leap of technology is fast weaponising the laser option in a multitude of emerging weapons from the mobile tactical variety to advanced medium range capability using innovative ideas for generating adequate lasing energy. The Chapter further describes the promise which the HPM and CPB weapons hold, though, much of it still remains in the pipeline of realisation. Describing the sword and shield relationship, it is stated that so long as the severity and lethality of the air threat continues to grow by way of multiplicity of threat vehicles, precision strike capability and a slew of smart and intelligent munitions, the combat teeth of the defenders will grow alongside in the truism for every sword; a shield. As to the foreseeable future, the day is not far when HPM and CPB weapons will become hard realities. These weapons are not stand alone, other enabling technologies, which are likely to mature by around 2020 include multi-spectral sensing without giving away the position of the fire unit, high data flow with real time signal processing, sensor fusion, multi-sensor, multi-step, multi-mode guidance and control, special fuzes, warheads and more.

The next Chapter highlights yet other non-conventional kill options for the GBADWS. This is through the Electronic Counter Measure (ECM) enablement of GBADWS. This option is based on the growing dependency of aerial threat vehicles on the Electromagnetic (EM) spectrum, both for their own avionics and operations, as also, for guiding the smart / precision munitions from the mother aircraft to their intended targets. This kill option aims to provide such an ECM muscle to the GBADWS which enables them to soft kill either the electronics / electromagnetics on board the mother aircraft or to cut/interfere/severe, even for a short while, the umbilical chord represented by the electronic / EM link between the mother aerial threat vehicle and the munitions being guided. It is believed that at speeds in magnitude of several machs and split-second response timings, the link once severed even for a wink can not be restored. Such kill options provide enhanced range effect as it is not limited by the range and reach of hard kill weapons, as also, an unlimited magazine as the ECM capability will be alive so long as the power remains pumped in. Befitting the concept described, the Chapter then highlights the existing weapon systems in the world that are based on this kill option. The Chinese 970 Radar Jamming System, the Israeli Multi-Platform Radar Jamming System, the Russians SPN series of equipment, the UK’s S373 ECM system and the US Mobile Ground to Air Radar jamming system find a mention.

In response to that school of Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) who have long written the obituaries of the lowly air defence guns and their ammunition, the next Chapter makes an emphatic statement to declare that the air defence guns, the original warhorse of air defence warriors are here to stay as the last sentinels of terminal defence, ready to face the determined attacker that manages to penetrate all the layers of a defender‘s line up. The world scan that follows in support of the above claim highlights a few truths. It firstly reveals that no country has ever discarded its guns, the war horses of 50s and 60s are still around, albeit with fantastic and all enabling qualitative upgrades. Most of these include a state-of-the-art Electro Optical Tracking System (EOTS) complete with its gyro-stablized day camera, high definition night camera with FLIR optics, eye-safe Laser Range Finder (LRF) and a digital Fire Control System (FCS).

It is also revealed that while calibres have gradually come down for 100mm to 85mm-76mm-57mm-40mm-35mm-30mm-23mm-20mm-14.5mm etc, there is no standard fit. While Sweden, Italy and Singapore celebrate their 40mm machines; Germany, Greece and Italy are busy perfecting their 30mm calibre; Russia, Poland, Belgium and Finland are going strong with their 23mm as much as US, France, Israel and Korea are spitting fire with their 20mm Gattlings and more. Besides the gun, ammunition is smarting up along multiple verticals to include warhead triggering at optimum point through embedding of near real-time intelligence at the muzzle end by way of rd-to-rd feeding of muzzle velocity and time of flight, then there is the course-correction strategy through impulse manoeuvre technologies and a whole lot of research is on in the designing of special effect ammunition. Some of these include air burst munition concepts, modular ammunition, other special effects to include higher penetration, higher incendiary, higher fragmentation and more. The various ammunition types include the DART ammunition, Telescoped Ammunition, and the ultimate 3P-Pre-Fragmented Programmable Proximity Fuzed ammunition. In sum, the days of air defence guns and gun ammunition are far from over.

The next Chapter deals with the key trends in the Integrated Air Defence Systems Concept. The central point being made in this Chapter is that of metamorphosis borne out of necessity. Some four to five decades into history there was a time when air threat was linear essentially riding on the twin shoulders of aircraft and helicopters in the visual domain while the number of assets to be protected were finite, thereby enabling themselves to be protected by terminal GBADWS in the point defence mode where fire units were VA/VP centric and were deployed in single and sometimes multiple rings around them.

All the above changed over time as the air threat re-vamped itself both qualitatively and quantitatively. The air threat vehicles grew in multiplicity, their range and reach envelope grew spatially and in range, reach, accuracy, precision and long range stand-off capability. Alongside this, the number of assets to be protected hit the roof, thereby making earlier forms of deployment impossible All this gave rise to the Integrated Air Defence System (IADS) concept, where GBADWS were deployed not as VA / VP centric but grid centric, implying that multiple layers of GBADS provided area air defence cover to a large No of VAs / VPs which were fixed / transiting the defended areas. Also all the three verticals of the air defence resources, viz the sensors (radars, visual observers and other technical means), shooters (guns, SAMs, air superiority fighters and interceptors) and Battle Management Systems (BMC⁴I²SR) are amalgamated synergistically into one cohesive unit ready to address the air threat. This concept of IADS has matured over time as an integrated family of GBADWS consisting of sensors, shooters and battle management systems. Such a system is eminently suitable to take on the contemporary, as well as, the futuristic air threat and possesses both the hard kill, as well as, soft kill options which I mentioned earlier. Enabling technologies today empower the IADS with enhanced survivability sensors having a high degree of immunity against radiation and EO sensors. Lately, IADS are also acquiring an anti-stealth muscle. In sum, IADS is the way to go in the foreseeable future.

Picking up the threads from the IADS, the next Chapter describes one of its key constituents; i.e the Air Defence Battle Management and Control System in some detail. If there is one life line of the air defence battle, it is ADBMC² system. Why? Simply because, so much of the entire battle sequence depends upon it; the surveillance of the air space, identification of multiple air threat vehicles, recognizing them as to friend-or-foe, generating a Recognised Air Situation Picture (RASP) through Multi-Sensor Tracing (MST), threat prioritization, weapon assignment and the dynamic and minute-to-minute control of air defence battle – all depends on ADBMC² system. If this one foundational link is weak, the best of sensors and the best of shooters will simply operate sub-optimally and fall like nine-pins. The Chapter describes the multiple challenges of BMC² system; must prominent being the MST challenge, i.e, the uphill task of filtration and fusion of multiple sensor inputs to remove duplications and provide the RASP. Then, there are other issues of forging a seamless compatibility among disparate systems in the sensor-shooter domain, measuring up to the challenges of survival in a hostile EW environment coupled with relentless SEAD operations by the adversary. The other challenges of BMC² systems include threat processing in a time urgent scenario, positive identification of friend-or-foe to keep fratricide at bay and reducing the response time cycle have been explained. The Chapter ends with a presentation of a panoramic view of the scene of the BMC² and ADC&R systems the world over to bring out the emerging challenges and smart solutions to address them. The countries included are USA, Germany and UK.

The book changes track here from the mainframe sensor-shooter- BMC² stuff and exposes the ever evolving and ever exciting world of simulators and simulation. The chapter explains how simulators are great enablers and are hugely relevant for Army AD where operational equipment is scarce, live training/firing are extremely costly, training space in crew compartments is restricted and operational hours are at a premium. The Chapter explains the hierarchy of simulation from the basic individual trainers to higher order simulation with GIS enablement, 3D simulation to include Aircraft Recognition Simulators and Radar Coverage Predictions Simulators. The former transforms the entire concept of aircraft recognition training ‘to as real as it can get’ while the latter gives a qualitative boost to the entire sequence of sensor deployment. While multi mode EW Simulators have cut down the dependence of live air sp for EW trg, the Class Room Variants of sensors enable an entire class to get trained with live equipment at one go. And finally come the ‘Total Effect Simulators’ which bring alive the complete air defence battle end-to-end thanks to the exciting world of simulators which holds a million promises in the foreseeable future.

The book at this point makes a departure from the contemporary and the futuristic to present a period piece aimed at providing some ‘Takeaways’ to the Air Defence warriors from the Air and Air Defence Campaign in the Gulf War, 1991. Why this war alone? Well, simply because of the amazing facts and figures on both the warring sides. In that, the Coalition Air Force flew something like 1,14,00 sorties in less than two months, averaging about 2000 sorties per day, dropping a colossal 88,500 tons of explosive, executing a strategic airlift of more than 5,00,000 personnel and 54,000 tons of cargo. The Iraqi Air Defence warriors ensured that a formidable Air Defence Punch came to a naught through absurd planning and a criminally sub-optimal exploitation of the might of a slew of GBADWS. In fact it came to such a pass that the defenders actually ‘gave away the battle unfought’. This war brought out the power of ‘smart planning’ by the attackers, who first broke the back of the defenders by crippling the Electronic Order of Battle through selective precision attacks. Once the soul was gone, the passive body of GBADWS was destroyed through a furious campaign of SEAD and precision strike in a technologically enabled and comprehensive mission planning environment. Out of all this the most amazing fact is the ‘fleeing away’ of some 121 of the defenders aircraft to Iran instead of putting up a fight (sic).

It is in the monumental destruction of the defender due to colossal SEAD and sub-optimal exploitation of a formidable AD punch of the defender that lie some takeaways. The caution of not to play into the adversary’s SEAD game come out loud and clear, the ‘Fleeing Away of Iraqi Air Force is beyond comment’, the critical requirement to build the redundancies to overcome dependencies on open communication architectures, the effectiveness of man portable SAMs and the inevitability and last line effectiveness of the gun systems came out loud and clear.

Towards the end, the book carves a brief comparative evaluation of the Chinese WZ10 Attack Helicopter and the AH 64E of USA. A comparison of factual details combined with a comparative evaluation of performance parameters of the two machines reveals that the two are not really comparable one-on-one in the same mould. The Chinese machine enjoys higher manoeuvrability due to a smaller and a lighter profile as required for the topography of Chinese borders, the American helicopter possesses brute fire-power better suited for achieving a higher kill effect in the offensive role.

And finally before signing off, as if to thread the preceding Chapters in one seamless sequence the book presents a Status Summary in the eternal and abiding cause effect cycle between the prosecutors of air threat and the defenders. Catching one end of the thread, the Chapter gives words to the cutting edge developments in the continous revamping of the air threat. In that, it briefly describes the FGFA of front-line nations credited with such amazing features like all-aspect stealth, Low Probability of Interception Radar or LPIR, high performance and structurally lighter airframes with minimal RCS; thanks to nano-materials, high advanced avionics with a capability to network dissimilar platforms in a net-centric domain, array of on-board sensors to provide high degree of immunity, hence, survivability in a hostile EW environment and armed to the teeth with smart / intelligent / precision arsenal capable of BVR delivery from long stand-off ranges.

Inspired by fascination and fear, electrifying moves and devastating capabilities it describes the front-line attack helicopters and gives a flavour of UAVs and UCAVs, the wonder threat vehicles whose time has come. The MUMT and the ethical debate of machine over arms, the SWARMs, the slew of SSMs, ARMs, Cruise Missile and more …. So much for the prosecutors of air threat.

For the defenders, it talks about the exponential growth of GBADWS over time, the evolving and fast maturing concept of layered-and-tiered air defence, the Integrated Air Defence System (IADS) complete with its trio of sensors, shooters and BMC² systems, fast re-vamping along separate verticals. The fast evolving art of invisibility and the enabling techniques of finding the needle in the haystack as appropriate similies for stealth and counter-stealth. A word on the last line defence of terminal AD weapons and their evolving ammunition types. The complete hierarchy of SAMs covering the entire range-reach continuum get a mention as the Chapter talks about the missile centric defence of VSHORADS-SRSAMs-QRSAMs and MRSAMs. A discussion on the emerging story of BMD and the quest to reach the ultimate aim of boost phase intercept follow. Then comes the mention of a whole new arsenal of soft kill weapons and what is latest in the field. The curtains finally come down with a brief mention of the ADBMC² system and the challenges involved therein.

In the last words the author makes a confession thus “So much is happening (in the field of air attack-defence continuum), so fast is the technology providing options on both sides of the fence that it is a full time job for SMEs to keep track on the latest at the cutting edge; the eternal duel continues.

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