IAF to have data network centricity in two years

BANGALORE - The Indian Air Force (IAF) will have a central network in the next two years to process data that will help during critical operations, Chief of Air Staff P.V. Naik said Friday.

“I am looking at a two years’ time to have a net centric environment to process data in real time for combat operations and optimal performance,” Naik told reporters on the margins of an air force event here.

With technology at the core of operations, the Indian Air Force (IAF) will use optical fibre cable as a backbone for its network AFNet (Air Force Net) with the Integrated Air Command & Control System (IACCS) as the ground arm, Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS), radars and electronic warfare system for data links as the base arm and satellites as a space arm.

“AFNet will be active by June this year and IACCS will be ready in a couple of years. AWACS and radars are in place for integration with other arms for building a network centricity by 2012-13,” Naik said after delivering the fourth L. M. Khatre Memorial Lecture here.

Unfolding the vision of the air force ‘requisite capability - well in time, ‘adaptive organisation’ and the ‘right people’, Naik said to achieve the capability, the IAF had a three-pronged transformation plan to preserve and maintain what it had, selectively upgrade and improve the lethality of its assets and to progress with acquisitions and replacements.

“We need satellites, force multipliers and strategic lift capability, fourth and fifth generation fighters, latest weapons, weapons systems and sensors, network centricity and communication and trained and motivated air warriors,” Naik said in his 30-minute address to serving and retired air force personnel and aerospace people from the industry.