Indian Air Force Embarks on the Development of Advanced Electronic Warfare Suite for Its Fighter Planes

A new advanced electronic warfare suite was developed for the Indian Air Force that will be equipped for its fighters. The Indian Air Force has several adversaries to deal with at its borders that are arming up with missile systems. Going up against the Chinese J-16D EW had necessitated the equipping of combat jets.

Indian Air Force Embarks in Next Gen Warfare

The Ministry of Defense and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), an industrial partner, have signed a contract to deliver the Indian Air Force with an advanced electronic warfare suite for its fighter aircraft, cited PIB.

Modern electronic warfare systems would dramatically increase the battle-survivability of Indian Air Force jet fighters while conducting operational missions versus opponents' ground-based and airborne fire control and surveillance radars.

After the 2019 battle between the Indian Air Force and Pakistani pilots amid the Balakot strikes and the standoff with China in the Eastern Ladakh region, where both sides had mobilized their respective fighter planes, the Indian Air Force's electronic warfare suite deal became critical.

The cost of development by BEL to design and develop the Instrumented Electronic Warfare Range (IEWR), electronic warfare equipment, is Rs 1109 crores, mentioned the New Indian Express.

The Ministry of Defense said the IEWR would be used to test and evaluate airborne electronic warfare equipment and validate their implementation in an operational context.

The Shakti electronic warfare system was developed for the Indian Navy by India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for warships to accomplish interception, detection, classification, identification, and jamming of conventional and modern radars in November when the system was given to the Indian Navy.

The advanced electronic warfare suite used by the Indian Air Force was also developed and researched by the DRDO.

An initial Shakti system was installed on the INS Visakhapatnam and is on the INS Vikrant, India's indigenous aircraft carrier, expected to operate later this year.

This research center also developed the 'Uttam' AESA radar to aid electronic warfare operations; India is one of the few countries with an indigenous electronic warfare force multiplier, reported the Eurasian Times.

Capable of tracking 50 targets in a radius of more than 100 kilometers and engaging four of them simultaneously.

The DRDO showcased the Indian-made AESA radar, termed 'Uttam,' at India's Republic Day celebration this year. The LCA Tejas aircraft are anticipated to be outfitted with this radar.

Indian Electronic Warfare System

In today's intensely disputed combat zone, having a robust electronic warfare capability is required. The Indian Air Force will benefit from modern electronic warfare technology that gives pilots a leg up on the competition.

Electronic warfare aims to deny the opponent unrestricted access while allowing friendly access. When US Air Force bombers were outfitted with jammer pods to reduce losses from surface-to-air missiles in Vietnam, electronic warfare proved to be invaluable.

J-16D is an electronic warfare derivative of the J-16 fighter jet built by China. It has been updated to improve precision capability and tactical maneuver for information and communication, resulting in adopting a blanket aviation electronic system.

Equipped electronic warfare pods should electronically mask a plane from radar and other specific electronic functions. The aircraft has air-to-air missiles with the electronic warfare suite. This advanced electronic warfare suite deployed by the Indian Air Force allows its fighter to be a match to the J-16D, which needs to survive modern air combat.