IAF’s Next Big Upgrade: Software-Defined Radios to Link Fighters, Sensors and Command

Modern warfare isn’t just about sophisticated weapons; high-quality communications is an imperative. This is why the Indian Air Force (IAF) will be pushing for SDRs or Software Defined Radios in the next Defence Procurement Board (DPB) meeting next month. SDRs or loosely, “airborne Internet,” highly placed sources said, is essential for network-centric warfare, which links up different kinds of radars and other sensors, allowing decision makers the opportunity to see the entire battlefield in front of them, interact with others and take the necessary action. It allows for integration, within a service, between the services and between the armed forces and the political leadership. In the battlefield, the concerned soldier gets precise information

allowing for more effective strikes. Eventually, there will be SDRs with virtually all units of the IAF, including fighter planes, helicopters, transport aircraft and ground control. Each SDR is about Rs 2 crore, and the IAF wants 2,500 of them. The SDRs will be indigenously made ( both the software and hardware elements, keeping in mind India’s aatmanirbharta or self-reliance plan), and once cleared by the DPB, which is headed by the Defence Secretary and includes the three vice-chiefs of staff, it will be placed before the Defence Acquisition Council, headed by defence minister Rajnath Singh and including the chief of defence staff and the three service chiefs.

More Astra-1 Missiles

The deal for 400 Astra-1 air-to-air missiles for the IAF is almost ready. These missiles, which have a range of 100 km, can be fitted onto IAF fighters, particularly the Sukhoi-30 (the IAF has about 270 of them), have been designed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation and will be manufactured by Bharat Dynamics.