INDIAN ARMY PLANS BIG TICKET EW SYSTEM PURCHASES
By Bulbul Singh
10 Sep 08. As part of the ongoing modernization drive of the Indian Army, a variety of Electronic Warfare (EW) systems are being procured in the next three-to-five years estimated to cost over $1bn. These include: Integrated Electronics Warfare Systems [IEWS], Low Intensity Conflict Electronic Warfare Systems (LIC EW), mobile EW systems and the homegrown systems like Samyukta EW systems.
A senior Indian defence ministry official said some of the tenders issued earlier will be re-tendered soon as the earlier tenders were too complicated and the bidders failed to come in comfortably on the bids.
India’s homegrown EW system Samyukta, made by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Army is ready for induction in the next two months. The Samyukta project got delayed in the face of U.S. sanctions between 1998 and 2001, which led to the stoppage of certain sub systems from overseas and thus some had to be homegrown with the help of state-owned companies Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL), Electronics Corporation of India Ltd (ECIL) and corporates like Computer Maintenance Corporation [CMC] and private sector defence major Tata Power Corporation.
The system is for mobile, tactical battlefield use and configured using Tatra vehicles. Each system is capable of collecting border intelligence and beyond over 25 kilometers. Described as a force multiplier, Samyukta can jam enemy signals whilst ensuring that its own signals are intact.
Last month the Indian Army floated a global tender for the purchase of Low Intensity Conflict Electronic Warfare Systems (LIC EW). The EW systems will be used in mountainous, plains and jungle terrain along the Indian borders.
“Initially tenders have been floated for procuring one EW system, although repeat orders will be made to the short listed vendor,” said Indian Army officials.
The EW systems should have the capability to search, detect, intercept, locate, monitor and jam all modulation types of state of the art modulation modes, including digital modulation. The system should have the capability to intercept and jam GSM, CDMA, TDMA, WLL based radio transmissions originating from mobile communication-based systems.
The EW systems should have automatic search capability on frequency band from 1.5MHz to 3000MHz. The system will have three independent functional blocks (Control Center (CC) Blocks). The individual platforms will comprise one CC Block of the Integrated Systems viz Control Centre (CC)-quantity one; Cellular Communication Interception Subsystems (CCIS)-quantity one; Reconnaissance and Direction Finding Station (RDFS)-quantity three; Short Direction Finding Base Station (SDFBS)-quantity three; Jammers HF (JS-H)-quantity one; Jammers VHF-UHF (JS-U)-quantity three; Radio Relay Repeater Station (RRRS)-quantity two.
The Control Center (CC) will be the main sub-centre where all the system elements will be integrated through an intercommunication system and should have the capability to interface and access the database and supervise functions of subordinate entities. The CC should have the capability of ESM( Electronic Support Measures) ESM and ECM (Electronic Counter Measures) system assignment. The CCIS should have the capability to provide passive interception of all types of currently available cellular networks, and should have the capability to selectively jam a particular link and should intercept Base Station traffic at a range of 35 kilometers.
Meanwhile, the purchase process is underway for the purchase of advanced Integrated Electronics Warfare Systems [IEWS] which led to the success of combat operations in Afghanistan by the U.S. troops and the coalition forces. “The IEWS will impart speed, and depth to operations.” said Indian army officials who added that, “The EW systems will introduce a surprise element