India Taps Western Expertise for Ambitious Electronic Warfare Aircraft Project

India's ambitious "Made in India" initiative to domestically bolster its electronic warfare capabilities has taken a significant step forward.

The country is seeking collaboration with Western defense giants to develop a fleet of specialized Signal Intelligence (SIGINT) and Communications Jamming (COMJAM) aircraft.

Western Expertise Sought​

American firm L3Harris and French company Thales have expressed interest in providing technical expertise for this complex project.

The decision to leverage Western knowledge underscores the sophistication of the technologies involved in SIGINT and COMJAM systems.

Platform and Partners​

The foundation for these cutting-edge aircraft will be the Airbus A319, a common passenger jet.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL) will jointly lead the conversion of this civilian aircraft into a military-grade intelligence gathering and electronic warfare platform.

In alignment with the "Made in India" vision, the project emphasizes the integration of indigenous technologies and equipment.

Key Stakeholders​

The Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), India's military intelligence wing, is anticipated to have a central role in operating the SIGINT and COMJAM Aircraft (SCA), in close coordination with the IAF.

Project Background and Purpose​

Initiated in 2019 by the Centre for Airborne Systems (CABS), the SCA project was conceived in direct response to the IAF's articulated needs.

Its core purpose lies in the ability to penetrate enemy territory to passively gather radio frequency emissions. Analysis of this collected data will facilitate the identification and classification of adversary radar systems, communication systems, and weapons platforms.

Additionally, the COMJAM functionality will enable the disruption of enemy communications, creating potential tactical advantages.

Real-Time Intelligence Capabilities​

A fundamental goal of the SCA project is to develop a platform with the ability to create a Real-time Electronic Order of Battle (EORBAT).

This comprehensive electronic warfare map is achieved by integrating SIGINT and COMJAM capabilities to provide a dynamic picture of the enemy's electronic assets.

CABS spearheads the program, collaborating with DRDL and the Defence Electronics Applications Laboratory (DEAL) to tailor the SCA specifically for the IAF.

 

[NSR]

All of those items of interest to India in SIGINT and COMINT and CORBAT and COMJAM etc are very secretive technologies and are very well guarded by all western countries.

I doubt that anyone will share anything without big payoff for them and permissions from their respective governments.
Raytheon Technologies sells its world class ISTAR equipped aircraft for $1+ billion or more and that is purely buyer-seller deal without any technology transfers at all.
So do not expect too much fromm these offers.

 

[shivkumar sinha]

This is good approach of using maximum indigenous systems and incorporating advanced technologies from foreign sources whatever available.

 

[Apocalypse gupta]

SIGINT is crucial for intercepting signals and spying on enemy. America is champion in this. I think they use drones for this purpose as well. In the drones deal with the US, this package should be there.

 

[PARTHAJIT JANA]

Probably only country with capabilities that would help us with tot in istar is israel.

 

[beencensured]

This is good approach of using maximum indigenous systems and incorporating advanced technologies from foreign sources whatever available.

Yes, borrow, steal, and etc, but know and doubt what you g0t and build iddm.

It like Chandrayaan 3 had a perfect landing, worked perfected, but after the American laser hit it worked no more unlike other landers.

 

[beencensured]

SIGINT is crucial for intercepting signals and spying on enemy. America is champion in this. I think they use drones for this purpose as well. In the drones deal with the US, this package should be there.

Another wet dream like USA giving f-22 technology, we have plenty of talent that should be utilized, at least we should be able to steal the technology.

 

[beencensured]

Probably only country with capabilities that would help us with tot in istar is israel.

Yes, Only Israel will sale such technology to us as that is how they make money and none of that technology is theirs. .

 

[Sandeep]

India needs to develop its own spy planes as they are very crucial and necessary because of having two hostile countries on our very long border. India needs to buy several long range, medium range and short range foreign planes as we haven't developed our own indigenous planes which is another essential requirement that we need to develop. We can maybe use our indigenous Dornier plane to use for our short range plane.

India will need to use foreign planes but we need to design and develop the technology 100% indigenously that we can use for SIGINT, COMINT, SATCOM, EW, ESM, COMJAM etc. India has already developed most of these functions, technology and capabilities but we can't use any western supplied parts or components as it could be used by them to spy on us at the same time and we can't use any Russian supllied parts because China just steals that technology from them or develops something similar to them.

That's why India has to indigenously design and develop those critical parts and technology to make sure we can use our own equipment and technology to wreak havoc on the border to spy and attain crucial communications, information and surveillance.

 

[Saptarshi Ray]

Yes, borrow, steal, and etc, but know and doubt what you g0t and build iddm.

It like Chandrayaan 3 had a perfect landing, worked perfected, but after the American laser hit it worked no more unlike other landers.

American laser hit Chandrayan! You must be nuts, need immediate treatment.