Drawing lessons from the awesome air power that was deployed by the allied forces in Iraq, the Indian Air Force is gearing up to use satellite-based communication links for real-time operation systems in training and combat exercises.
The IAF is increasingly relying on latest avionics and communication systems for effective deployment of its forces and quick response, chief of air staff Air Chief Marshal S Krishnaswamy told rediff.com in Bangalore on Friday.
"Though air forces the world over have embarked on air to aerospace programmes using modern communication gadgets with satellite links, we have been going in spurts in that direction.
"The air prowess in the Iraq war has demonstrated how effectively imagery and satellite communications were used by the allied forces in targeting enemy bases on a real-time basis.
"As part of our strategy to have a combative air warrior, our latest fighter aircraft are being fitted with real-time operation systems so that our pilots will have all the information and data in the cockpit itself while airborne to target either existing or potential trouble spots," Krishnaswamy stated.
Referring to the extensive use of satellite link by television channels to bring the action on the battlefield live on real-time basis to viewers the world over, Krishnaswamy said the IAF is planning to implement the same technology.
"The Iraq war has shown how B-52 bombers took off from far away bases in the US and headed to the war zone using the target projections on the display panels in the cockpit for precision guided air strikes.
"Real-time applications using aerospace technology have become very important in modern warfare, especially for the military pilots who fly long distances and require flexibility, speed and strike power," Krishnaswamy asserted.
Asked whether the IAF would be using a dedicated satellite or a separate transponder for its real-time operations, he said the day was not far off when the IAF would need either of these facilities.
"For real-time command control, instant information processing and force multiplier effect, the IAF will certainly consider such a possibility if it would be able to gain maximum from that kind of application.
"It will be to our advantage to use such means because an airborne system that will have to cover thousands of miles, face variations in weather, and chase targets from long distances can be managed on real-time basis effectively," Krishnaswamy claimed.
In this context, the chief of air staff disclosed that the IAF would increase outsourcing its software and avionics applications from the Indian software sector.
"A lot of software packages and avionics are already being developed by private IT firms in Bangalore for global aviation/aerospace corporations. As part of our localisation process, we are using these packages in our fighter aircraft.
"The Aeronautical Development Agency and the Defence Research Development Organisation are also developing real-time applications, attack system and navigation controls for the Sukhoi-30MKI, the Light Combat Aircraft (Tejas) and Jaguars of the IAF," Krishnaswamy mentioned.
Incidentally, the air force chief is visiting the Bangalore-based Infosys Technologies on Friday for a first-hand account of its activities and exploring the possibility of outsourcing the IAF's software requirements.
