RUKHMANI NETWORK CENTRIC SYSTEM TO LINK WARWHIPS WITH INDIA’S
DEDICATED SATELLITE
By Bulbul Singh
14 Jun 12. The Indian Navy is launching its network centric warfare programme, Rukhmani, under which warships will be linked with a homemade satellite through Satcom terminals. Orbit of Israel has transferred technology to state-owned Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) to build the Rukhmani project.
The homemade satellite weighing 2330 kilogrammes will be put in stationary orbit over the Indian Ocean with a footprint of around 1000 nautical miles and enable warships, submarines and aircraft to communicate on real time basis. The satellites will be linked to all the warships which will have satcom terminals mounted on them under project Rukhmani.
The shipborne project, Rukhmani, also called “Project ICNS,” involves delivery and installation of 3D Stabilised VSAT Antennae for the entire Indian Navy whereby Ku band VSAT terminals and C Band VSAT terminals are being delivered by Bharat Electronics Limited(BEL) and Electronics Corporation of Indian Limited (ECIL) to Indian Naval ships. M/S Orbit of Israel is the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) for the Rukhmani project. Under the system, two types of ship borne terminals would be operational, providing multi-channel voice, video and data connectivity across the networked nodes of the Integrated Communications Network System (ICNS). The terminals will be of two types which will include a Large Ship Satcom terminal and a Small Ship Satcom Terminal. Large Ship Satcom Terminal would be a dual frequency band (C & Ku) Satcom terminal which will be mounted on warships including frigates and command ships. It will provide connectivity (Voice, Fax, data, Video, Internet) using either of the operational bands (C or Ku) for the duration of the ships operational deployment.
The terminal consists of an antenna, satellite tracking and antenna control equipment, transmit and receive equipment, satellite modem, monitor and alarm equipment and other support equipment. The terminal will be integrated under the command and control of the network management system and link with the satellite. The terminal will automatically track satellites and will not dependent on a satellite beacon signal. Small Ship Satcom Terminal would be a single frequency band (Ku) Satcom terminal intended primarily for small ships and will provide continuous and unhindered communications connectivity (Voice, Fax, data, Video, Internet) for the duration of the ships anchorage as well as operational deployment. The Small satcom terminal will be a a single frequency band (Ku) Satcom Terminal intended primarily for small ships in the 400 to 2000 ton range, which may have a less demanding communications requirement. This terminal will also consist of antenna; satellite tracking and antenna control equipment; transmit and receive RF equipment; satellite modem, monitor and alarm equipment and other support equipment. The entire terminal will also be integrate d with the command network system. The network system will support Voice, Fax, and other Data including e-mail, intra-internet, tele-video conferencing, broadcast, image transmission, welfare and logistic support information and other data.
The Rukhmani network system will get operational once the satellite being built by Indian Space Research and Organization, (ISRO) is put into orbit in the next one to two months by an overseas launch vehicle. Though the satellite is being officially called a communication satellite, sources say it will be dedicated for use by the Indian. The satellite is currently undergoing thermo-vacuum tests at the ISRO Satellite Centre in Bangalore. In April ISRO had launched the Risat-1 radar imaging satellite, which enables imaging through bad weather conditions during both day and night, will assist Indian land management, agriculture monitoring and resource observation. Experts say India has the capability to build surveillance and mi