MUST INVEST IN EW CAPABILITIES

Indian Air Force (IAF) must continue to invest in the development and deployment of advanced electronic warfare systems to remain competitive in a rapidly evolving global security landscape

- ROHIT GOEL

ELECTRONIC WARFARE (EW) SYSTEMS PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE in modern air force operations, and are essential for gaining and maintaining tactical advantages on the battlefield by providing critical capabilities for disrupting or neutralising enemy electronic systems and communications. By disrupting enemy radar systems or intercepting their communications, air forces can gain a significant advantage in both offensive and defensive operations. Electronic warfare systems can include a range of different technologies, such as radar jamming, signal intelligence, and electronic countermeasures.

Earlier this year, in an exclusive interview to SP’s Aviation on the occasion of Aero India 2023, Air Chief Marshal V.R. Chaudhari, Chief of the Air Staff, had said that, “there is a need to equip all aircraft with EW self-protection systems like Radar Warning Receivers, Airborne Self Protection Jammers (ASPJs), Missile approach and warning systems and Laser Warning Systems. Such self-protection measures also need to be complimented with an offensive EW capability.”