India develops largest electronic warfare system

Tuesday, 20 January 2004, 20:30 IST
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HYDERABAD: In a major step towards becoming self-reliant in defence technologies, India has announced the development of the first ever indigenously built and largest integrated electronic warfare system. Christened "Samyukta", the system was handed over by President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, the supreme commander of the armed forces, to Indian Army chief, Gen. N.C. Vij, here Monday in the presence of Defence Minister George Fernandes and V.K. Aatre, chief of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). Samyukta, the result of a joint programme by the DRDO and the Indian Army to develop electronic counter measures and counter-counter measures against the enemy's warfare capabilities, was developed over seven years by a team of 500 scientists and specialists. The first block of the system, comprising 26 state-of-the-art ground vehicles equipped with cutting edge technology for electronic warfare, was handed over to Vij at the Electronic System Engineering Centre of the Defence Electronics Research Laboratory. Aatre said Samyukta would be ready for deployment in forward areas in six months. Speaking on the occasion, Kalam called on defence scientists and research institutions to synchronise action among electronic warfare systems of the army, navy and air force to ensure that no special warheads were able to enter Indian territory. This is the first state-of-the-art integrated electronic warfare system for the army, while defence research laboratories have already developed similar systems for the navy called "Sangraha" and for the air force called "Tempest". These were the three systems that Kalam wanted to be integrated for effectively foiling any possible nuclear warhead. "In view of our nuclear doctrine of no first use, it is essential to study how a synchronised action between electronic warfare systems of the army, navy and air force can prevent the entry of a special warhead in our territory," he said. Kalam said the development and production of super components by 40 small companies under the code programme enabled India to overcome the denial of technology by other countries. He called for the development of high quality, cost effective products within the country. "Competitiveness has three dimensions of cost effectiveness, quality and timely marketing of the products when other countries need them," he said. Aatre told newsmen Samyukta was the largest electronics warfare program. The massive system is contained in 145 vehicles, he said without elaborating. He said the cost of the project was millions of rupees. The unique feature of this system was that it integrated two sub-systems of communications warfare or voice and data communications and non-communication warfare or radar systems. Aatre said electronic warfare enabled a country to dominate the electromagnetic spectrum during a battle. The system did not allow enemy sensors, electronic transmitters and radars to operate by jamming them.
Source: IANS