UAVS, MISSILES ARE LIKELY FUTURE THREATS
ChinmayaIAS Academy - Current Affairs
January 30, 2023
GS3, Science & technology
237 Views
- Missiles and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) are likely to be a major future threat, calling for a mitigation strategy as part of an integrated air defence, and underlining the need for a comprehensive air defence solution.
- That is the biggest takeaway for India from an Army analysis of the war in Ukraine, in the context of the air battle fought there and its implications for the Indian air defence, according to defence sources.
- With the Russia-Ukraine conflict having lasted almost a year now, the Army is also feeling the pinch in terms of spares and ammunition, particularly for its air defence and armoured fleets, which are largely of Russian origin, a fact recently acknowledged by Army chief General Manoj Pande.
- Earlier this month, General Pande said that the Army had carried out a detailed analysis of the various lessons that the conflict threw up for India — on weapon systems, tactics and operational procedures. These lessons will be applied and incorporated in the Indian context, he said.
- “For ground-based air defences (GBAD), the most important aspect is Survivability against Suppression and Destruction of Air Defence (SEAD/DEAD) operations by the adversary. Deconfliction of air defence missiles with interceptors in exclusive engagement zones and decentralised execution of air defence function is a must,” said a source, elaborating on the lessons for GBAD to be learned, which have emerged crucial, from the Russian offensive and the Ukrainian response.
- The Russian Air Force attempted to gain control of Ukrainian air space as a prelude to the war. In the first three days of the conflict, there was an average of 140 sorties per day, with about 10% of the Russian aircraft lost to the Ukrainian air defences, analysis shows.
- Russian strike operations after the first three days were largely confined to stand-off launches using missiles, sources said, adding that this was also prompted by Russia’s heavy losses due to Ukraine’s Man Portable Air Defence Systems (MANPADS).
- Ukrainian GBADs shot down almost 50% of Russian cruise and ballistic missiles launched against multiple targets, despite the fact that they were operating in tandem with Russia’s Shahed-136 UAVs, the source observed.
- Loitering munitions are another major threat that has emerged in this war posing asymmetric challenge to both armour as well as air defences.
- Analysis has shown that the best air defences against them are high rate gun systems, better optic sights, fragmented ammunition and Active Electronically Scanned Array (ASEA) radars. MANPADS have been noticed to be highly effective when in range and with night vision, the source said.
- This is an area that the Indian Army has been looking to modernise for a while, with limited success.
- The Army’s air defence is in the midst of a major transition. Several inductions are in the pipeline and efforts are under way to put in place a layered air defence net for various ranges and altitudes, which has only gained urgency post the Ukraine war.
- As part of modernisation efforts, a ₹200 crore networking and automation project — on the lines of the Indian Air Force’s Integrated Air Command and Control System (ICCCS) network — is now ready.
- “All tests have been completed and it is ready to be fielded. Integration is distributed at all levels. It is scheduled to go for approval of the competent financial authority by March 31,” said sources who know of the development.
- The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) which met on January 10 had given its approval for procurement of a Very Short Range Air Defence Systems (VSHORAD-Infrared Homing) missile system currently under design and development by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
- At the short-range level, the Army has the indigenous Akash surface-to-air Missile (SAM). A quick-reaction SAM is under development by the DRDO, with a range of 25-30 km. At the next range, the medium-range surface-to-air missile (MRSAM) project jointly developed by the DRDO with Israel has now entered production, sources said.
- General Pande had also stated that sustenance of weapon systems and equipment, in terms of spares and ammunition, is one issue that the Army has addressed.
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