SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
In a significant step toward enhancing the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) operational capabilities and self-reliance in defense technology, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has been tasked with integrating indigenously developed Software-Defined Radios (SDRs) onto the IAF’s fleet of Ilyushin IL-78 mid-air refueling tankers.
The IAF operates six IL-78MKI tankers, acquired from Russia between 2003 and 2004, which serve as critical force multipliers for extending the range and endurance of its fighter jets, including the Su-30 MKI, Rafale, and Mirage 2000. Capable of transferring up to 110 tons of fuel via three hose-and-drogue refueling pods, the IL-78s enable long-range missions, such as deep-strike operations and sustained air patrols, essential for countering threats along India’s borders with Pakistan and China. However, the tankers’ legacy communication systems, reliant on outdated analog and early digital radios, have limited interoperability and vulnerability to electronic warfare, necessitating a modern upgrade.
The integration of SDRs, developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in collaboration with private-sector partners like Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), represents a transformative upgrade for the IL-78 fleet. Unlike traditional radios with fixed hardware configurations, SDRs use software to modulate signals, allowing dynamic switching between frequencies, waveforms, and communication protocols. This flexibility enables secure voice and data transmission, resistance to jamming, and compatibility with multiple platforms, including fighters, AWACS, and ground stations.
The upgrade also enhances the IL-78s’ interoperability with the IAF’s broader ecosystem, including its three Phalcon AWACS and two Netra Mk1 systems, with six additional Netra Mk1A and six MkII platforms in development. By equipping the tankers with SDRs, the IAF can create a networked battlespace, where data from AWACS, fighters, and ground-based radars is seamlessly shared, improving situational awareness and mission efficiency. This is particularly crucial for operations in the Indo-Pacific, where India faces maritime threats in the South China Sea and along its eastern coast.
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