India faces threat on its Northern and Western borders. To counter this, there is a definite need to enhance our capabilities by concentrating on those technologies that are important to the Indian Army so as to modernise with utmost speed. The Indian Army is focussing on modernisation through indigenous development. With this in view, the Indian Army has identified certain areas for modernisation. These are F-INSAS, Network Centric Warfare (NCW), Arms, Ammunition, Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Nano Technology, Non Lethal Weapons, Directed Energy Weapons, and Nuclear, Biological Chemical (NBC) Warfare. F-INSAS There are numerous programmes of modernisation which are on the anvil of which the F-INSAS is the most important. The F-INSAS is an acronym for the term ‘Future Infantry Soldier as a System’. It is to provide the future infantry soldier with state-of-the-art weaponry and combat gear. The phase one of the project is to be completed by 2015 and the complete schedule by 2020.The important systems which the soldier would be equipped with would be the helmet, clothing, weapon and accessories. Modernisation in Network Centric Warfare (NCW) Broadly there are four important aspects in the field of NCW. These are Information Sharing, Improved Situation Awareness, Speed of Command and Enhanced Mission Effectiveness. NCW is characterised by the aspects of Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Target Acquisition. The Indian Army has been taking baby steps towards the process of digitisation. The entire transformation which was aptly described as systems technology in 1970 to system of systems in 1980 onward to a family of systems in the 21st century has resulted in a New Generation Network which enables forces to obtain precise target information in real time leading to quick responsive engagements causing effective destruction of designated targets. As far as the Indian Army is concerned, the digitisation is handled by the Directorate General of Information Systems which deals with this important element of Non Contact Warfare. The heart of the system is Command Information Decision Support System (CIDSS) which comprises: Tactical Command Control Communications and Information System (Tac C3I), Artillery Combat Command and Control System (ACCCS), Battlefield Surveillance System (BSS), Air Defence Control & Reporting System (ADC&RS;), Electronic Warfare System (EWS) and, Electronic Intelligence (ELINT) System. The Tac C3I is meant to provide state-of-the-art connectivity from the Corps HQ and below. Upward connectivity from Corps HQ to Army HQ is to be provided by the Army Strategic Operational Information Dissemination System (ASTROIDS). However, there is a lacuna as no connectivity exists at unit and sub-unit level. Accordingly, there is a requirement to provide an automated Battle Management System (BMS) for the sub-units to have sensors, platforms, weapon systems integrated with individual soldiers, to enable them to exploit their assets and translate plans into synergised operations at the lowest level. While the Information systems are being net-worked, steps are being undertaken to provide sensors as also modern platforms comprising tanks, guns, rockets and missiles. Phase 1 of ACCCS has been completed and practically 33 per cent of Artillery units are equipped with state-of-the-art networks. Tac C3I and BSS are in the test bed. EWS, ELINT and ADC&RS; are in the process of development. The main Defence Public Sector Unit (DPSU) involved is Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and the main Defence and Research laboratory is Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (CAIR). It would take about three to four years to see induction of these systems. As regards sensors, we have currently acquired Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), Battle Field Surveillance Radars, Weapon Locating Radars, Long Range Reconnaissance and Observation System (LORROS), Thermal Imaging Intensification Observation Equipment (TIIOE), N Cross night vision equipment, Hand Held Thermal Imaging (HHTI) equipment, night vision binoculars and Unattended Ground Sensors. The quantities held are minimal and greater numbers are needed for improved Battle Field Transparency. Apart from these, the Indian Army needs satellites as also Aerostats for wider coverage of its Area of Influence.

• published: 12 Aug 2014
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