The Big Leap

Air Cmde K.A. Muthana (retd)

We know if we connect the right sensor with the right ship, we can act faster than our adversaries in any battlefield.

General Charles Brown, USAF Chief of Staff, DIACC 2021, Dubai

India’s security problems are less technological than cultural, organisational and procedural. It is said that when strategy meets culture, culture wins every time. This is also true of the Indian armed forces. Throughout the history of independent India’s external skirmishes, there are glaring examples of inadequacies in intelligence and joint-man ship.

In an attempt to resolve some issues, we continue to grapple with reorganisation of the armed forces. Blind pursuit of organisational restructuring without first trying to establish the desired battlefield outcome that technology of today can offer, is likely to lead to endless deliberations and sub-optimal outcomes. So instead of putting the cart before the horse, one could look to technology for solutions. One such technology is the creation of a combat cloud within which the entire force operates.

While one must not underestimate the complexity of such a cloud, it is also not the stuff of science fiction. Hardware and software elements already exist within the country. For example, Software Defined Radios (SDR) are already on the negative list for import and now it is a matter of scaling, repackaging and equipping each sensor-shooter element with this key piece of communication and data transfer technology. Necessary software will have to be engineered. More importantly, we need to strategise by overcoming cultural biases.

What is required is the creation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) supported secure internet of military things. This article will briefly examine individual aspects of a combat cloud, AI, cyber security and its complimentary science of cryptography as applicable to forces directly engaged in operations against adversaries.

Combat Cloud will improve the efficiency and security of air platforms; Airbus Group’s visualization of a Combat Cloud

Combat Cloud

A combat cloud is fundamentally a federated and interconnected network of a large number of computers and data centres that work together to store and manage data, run applications to deliver content and services. For example, few of the applications can be, an airborne IAF sensor over Haryana being able feed targeting information to a specific surface to air missile battery of the Indian Army on the Punjab border; naval maritime reconnaissance aircraft feeding targeting information to an IAF strike formation; or an unmanned air vehicle providing targeting information to an airborne strike force. Possibilities are limitless.

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