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India’s Electronic Warfare Leap
Electronic Warfare Modernisation with SAMBHAV, Samyukta, Himashakti, and AI
Context: In today’s digitised battlefields, dominance is no longer achieved solely through superior firepower—it hinges on control of the electromagnetic (EM) spectrum.
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- From communications and navigation to surveillance and targeting, every element of modern warfare depends on this invisible infrastructure.
- Without it, armed forces are rendered blind, deaf, and disconnected.
Why Electromagnetic Spectrum Superiority is Critical for India?
- Nuclear Neighbours: India, with its extensive and disputed borders shared with two nuclear-armed neighbours—China and Pakistan—faces an urgent need to achieve superiority in electronic warfare (EW).
- Evolving Nature of Warfare: As the nature of warfare rapidly evolves with the rise of drones, satellites, cyber capabilities, and network-centric operations, India’s armed forces are adapting at pace.
- Military Doctrine: Electronic Warfare is no longer just a support function—it has become central to India’s military doctrine, particularly for the Indian Army, which is spearheading efforts to modernise and fortify national defence through advanced EW systems.
Army Chief’s Vision: EW at the Core of Modernisation
- While addressing the 64th National Defence College (NDC) Course, Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi outlined the Indian Army’s future-forward roadmap based on five strategic pillars:
- Jointness and Integration
- Force Restructuring
- Modernisation and Technology Infusion
- Systems, Processes, and Functions
- Human Resource Management
- The third pillar, Modernisation and Technology Infusion, includes a decisive push to secure the Army’s communication and EW infrastructure under contested and high-threat conditions.
SAMBHAV: A Secure Mobile Communication Backbone
- At the forefront of this initiative is SAMBHAV (Secure Army Mobile Bharat Version)—an indigenously developed, encrypted communication platform built for operational and tactical use.
- Unlike commercial apps, SAMBHAV provides military-grade security for field personnel, ensuring uninterrupted and secure connectivity during EW scenarios, where communications are often the first targets.
- It plays a vital role in strengthening the Army’s resilience against jamming, interception, and cyber threats.
Samyukta: India’s Integrated EW Powerhouse
- India’s flagship EW system, Samyukta, marks a significant step towards tactical dominance.
- Co-developed by DRDO, BEL, ECIL, and the Corps of Signals, Samyukta is a mobile, integrated platform capable of intercepting, monitoring, and jamming a broad spectrum of enemy signals—from HF to millimetre waves.
- Its ability to perform both Electronic Support Measures (ESM) and Electronic Countermeasures (ECM) makes it indispensable for battlefield superiority.
- Mobility ensures rapid deployment across conflict zones, giving the Army a decisive electronic edge.
Himashakti: EW Dominance in High-Altitude Warfare
- Operating in mountainous terrain along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China demands specialised capabilities.
- Himashakti, India’s high-altitude EW system, meets that challenge.
- Built to perform in oxygen-deprived, sub-zero environments, it delivers precision signal detection and jamming in line-of-sight-restricted regions.
- Integrated with drones, satellites, and networked command systems, Himashakti offers real-time situational awareness, enabling proactive responses even in the most difficult geographies.
IEWP: Total Spectrum Supremacy
- The Integrated Electronic Warfare Platform (IEWP) further enhances India’s spectrum warfare capabilities.
- Designed for multi-terrain deployment, IEWP features low, mid, and high-frequency jamming modules—all interconnected to a centralised Command Centre via encrypted, redundant networks.
- This modular, layered system supports Electronic Counter-Countermeasures (ECCM) to resist enemy disruption attempts, making IEWP a strategic asset that disrupts enemy command chains even before kinetic operations begin.
AI-Powered EW: Speed, Precision, and Autonomy
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) is now revolutionising India’s electronic warfare strategy.
- By enabling real-time signal classification, threat analysis, and pattern recognition, AI systems dramatically reduce response times and improve decision-making under pressure.
- AI-integrated platforms like Samyukta, Himashakti, and IEWP can autonomously execute jamming or spoofing tactics, adapt to changing enemy tactics, and dynamically collaborate across multiple systems.
- This adds a layer of agility and foresight, empowering EW units to act before threats materialise.
Cyber-EW Convergence: Multi-Domain Operations in Action
- India is also embracing Multi-Domain Operations (MDO)—a warfare concept that unifies land, air, sea, space, and cyber domains.
- The convergence of cyber capabilities with EW ensures that enemy networks are not only jammed but also digitally compromised.
- During joint exercises, Army EW units simulate jamming enemy lines while cyber teams target backend infrastructure.
- This coordination reflects a doctrine shift—one that integrates cyber-electronic strategies for comprehensive battlefield impact.
Way Ahead
- Coordination: While systems like Samyukta, Himashakti, and IEWP represent significant progress, challenges remain.
- India must bridge gaps in tri-service coordination, integrate real-time data across domains, and enhance collaboration with space-based assets.
- To sustain its edge, India needs: Enhanced EW training programs, Increased private sector participation in defence innovation, Faster adoption of AI and next-gen tech and Agile doctrines to match evolving threats.
