India Defence: Electronic warfare to move to satellites

By Syed Akbar
May 19, 2008
Hyderabad, May 18: India is planning to move its electronic warfare systems to satellites to make it difficult for most of its enemies to shoot down. Currently, electronic warfare systems (EWS) are mounted on ground vehicles or on pilotless aircraft. Though they are highly advanced, they are limited by range and have shortcomings apart from the fact that they are vulnerable to enemy attack.
The satellite-based EWS are more attack-proof because just about three countries have jealously-guarded capability to shoot down satellites. EWS are used to monitor enemy communication systems and jamming enemy radio and radar signals. They can even play havoc with the enemy’s missiles and electronic equipment. Advanced nations like the US have already developed the technology to put their EWS on satellites. India plans to manufacture the technology indigenously.
The city-based Defence Electronics Research Laboratory will develop the satellite EWS technology in association Bharat Electronics Limited and Electronics Corporation of India Limited. “Since the technology needs to be lightweight to be put in satellites, we are going for miniaturisation. The size of the equipment needs to be reduced by 10 times,” a senior defence scientist told this correspondent.
The miniaturisation of EWS will involve strengthening of electronic signalling systems so that it can have a large electromagnetic range. Once the satellite-based EWS is in place, India will have a greater military advantage in the region as it can monitor enemy nations. In another development, the Indian Army will get a boost with the induction of Samyukta electronic warfare system by November. DLRL has developed integrated electronic warfare systems for tactical battlefield operations as well as low conflict scenarios to meet the Army’s operational requirements. Samyukta will be India’s largest EWS. It is fully mobile and developed for tactical battlefield use. Its advantages include coverage of wide range of frequencies and the electromagnetic spectrum.