Time was when war was usually waged between the armed forces of two or more nations. Modern conflicts however are increasingly asymmetric and borderless and it may be unclear whether the real adversary is a neighbouring state, non-state actors or a ragtag group of insurgents bent on destabilising the country. Or all of the above, acting in collusion, as India has experienced.

Time was when airborne C3I (command, control, communications and intelligence) meant a large aircraft with multiple sensors, an expensive platform to be deployed only in support of a significant military operation. The concept has been displaced by the more comprehensive C4ISR that stands for command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. C4ISR is built around a framework that may include satellites, manned aircraft, unmanned systems, and human observers. It is becoming an integral part of every combat operation, one that greatly contributes to enhanced mission effectiveness. Indeed it may be just as crucial in peacetime, sometimes in order to prevent armed conflict.

The aim of C4ISR is to provide advanced situational awareness and decision-making capability to military forces so as to ensure the survivability of friendly assets, whether airborne, maritime or ground-based. To try and simplify a complex subject, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) systems provide the sensor inputs or raw data; communications and computers help reconcile disparate details and formulate a clear picture; this enables the command and control “brain” to respond with timely and effective decisions.

C4ISR – A Stitch in Time

A range of technologies is now available to C4ISR systems and their rapid evolution is driving global demand. In particular, interest in intelligence gathering and surveillance ability is at an alltime high. Authentic, reliable, real-time information has always been one of the primary ways to shrink the circle of uncertainty surrounding the enemy’s capabilities and intentions, and unleash the full potential of combat power. And since the dawn of the aviation age, it is the air that has provided the freshest information.

ISR is the continuously updated segment of C4ISR. Effective ISR systems provide early warning of enemy threats and increase the effectiveness, coordination, and lethality of military forces. Every advanced nation today has numerous manned and unmanned devices with varying capability to provide streams of data to trained analysts who help create a coherent picture of the “battlefield”. During daylight, electro-optical devices provide full-motion video information while after dark it’s the turn of infrared feed. Thus the system can function round the clock.

Timely ISR and responsiveness are what India’s defence forces sorely need. The country has a land frontier of 15,200 km that is marked by regular infiltration of militants from Pakistan and a live boundary dispute with China which generates claims and counterclaims about border violations and incursions. It has a coastline of 7,500 km that presents many challenges including the security of 12 major ports. India’s area of interest has also expanded from its immediate neighbourhood and now stretches from the Persian Gulf in the West to the Strait of Malacca in the East. Modern ISR systems are the first step to build capabilities to cover this vast region. Indeed, inadequate ISR may greatly increase the danger and cost of future combat operations. The solution is to acquire and effectively employ sufficient capable systems. However, although they are undoubtedly very effective, the cost of large manned aircraft like the Boeing E-3B AWACS and the Northrop Grumman E-8C Joint STARS is prohibitive. What can a not-so-rich country do?

Small is Beautiful and Affordable

One way to lower costs is to go unmanned. Israel is in the forefront of the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) revolution, so far as volume and capability of ISR is concerned. Ranging from the large Heron family to micro-UAVs, it has a variety of options to obtain the maximum advantage with the minimum risk or expense. But unmanned aircraft have their own limitations. For militaries that prefer to remain manned, a range of more affordable ISR options is available. Airbus Military’s CN235, for instance, is a twinturboprop long endurance Maritime Surveillance Aircraft (MSA) capable of many demanding ISR missions. The ATR 42 and 72, and Saab’s 340 and 1000 regional turboprops can all be fielded in the maritime surveillance or maritime patrol role. Embraer also offers militarised versions of its ERJ145 regional jet. The EMB 145-MP/ASW is designed for maritime patrol and electronic intelligence. The EMB145SA AEW model is an advanced and affordable system with high-performance multi-mode active phased-array radar, a powerful command and control system and a comprehensive set of support systems like ESM, self-protection and communications, including data links.

The Business of C4ISR

“Small size, low cost, high capability” is the new mantra for C4ISR platforms. Therefore, a new breed of business jets and turboprops that function as multi-mission ISR aircraft is emerging. They are fitted with smaller, lighter sensors that cost less and perform better. And they may meet India’s requirements too. For instance, Dassault is offering MSA versions of its popular Falcon 900 and Falcon 2000 business jets.

Bombardier’s numerous ISR offerings include Global and Challenger business jets, the Learjet family and the Q-Series turboprops. The Challenger 605 has high dash speed, long endurance and good manoeuvrability at low altitude. Boeing and Field Aviation have modified the Challenger 605 to offer about 80 per cent of the P-8 Poseidon’s capability to militaries that might not need, or be able to afford the P-8. Boeing is also marketing the aircraft for overland surveillance. Able to loiter in a given area or shadow a target for long periods, the rugged and reliable Q-Series aircraft are ideal for maritime patrol. They are deployed around the globe for coastal surveillance, air and marine interdiction, and airspace security.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Beechcraft King Air twin-turboprop. With nearly 7,200 King Airs delivered, it is one of the best-selling business aircraft families in the world. King Airs can be used for a range of special missions, including ISR and maritime patrol, at a fraction of the cost of larger aircraft. The current King Air 350ER (extended range), weighing just 16,000 pounds, can carry 7,400 pounds of sensors. It has a range of more than 2,500 nm and up to 12 hours endurance, with the flexibility to loiter low and slow or cruise at 300 knots and 35,000 feet. In the overland surveillance role it has sufficient payload to operate a moving target indicator, synthetic aperture radar, EO/IR (FLIR), streaming video data link, self-protection systems, and a range of high-performance communications systems. Beechcraft is also offering a new ISR variant of its G58 Baron twin-engine piston aircraft. Although less capable than its larger relative it still features a range of sensors and is much cheaper to purchase and operate.

Putting it All Together

Like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle waiting to be solved, the components of a capable C4ISR system are available in India, to some degree. The Indian Air Force (IAF) has three Israeli Phalcon AWACS fitted on board Russian-supplied IL-76 aircraft. It is also acquiring three smaller Embraer EMB 145 AEW&C (Airborne Early Warning and Control) aircraft that should be operational by next year. Considering the huge area that needs to be kept under surveillance, and because each aircraft cannot remain airborne for long, the IAF’s goal is perhaps 15 to 20 AWACS/AEW&C aircraft, with varying degrees of endurance and capability. Some of these may materialise through the indigenous route. The IAF should also consider small yet capable ISR aircraft like the King Air or the Challenger 605 that can be acquired in larger numbers. The Indian Navy is in the process of inducting eight Boeing P-8I Long Range Maritime Reconnaissance and Anti-Submarine Warfare (LRMR/ASW) aircraft, based on the Boeing 737-800(NG) airframe. It may acquire another four of these capable aircraft under the option clause.

But the IAF’s ISR coverage is theatre-level. The Navy must protect the fleet and conduct combat operations from the sea, perhaps beyond the IAF’s range. And the Army naturally worries mainly about how to provide direct support to its brigades and divisions. Each service also has its own intelligence organisation and there’s no structure to quickly share relevant information. Under the AFNET all IAF Command HQs and stations are linked through a wide area network and are accessible via data communication channels. The remaining units will be linked once a dedicated IAF satellite is launched, perhaps this year. The Indian Navy already has its satellite. But the three services still have separate communications networks and compatibility between them remains an issue. The solution is a formal system to share the various ISR inputs and produce a clear and comprehensive picture. That is why HQ Integrated Defence Staff (IDS) has initiated a process to raise three new tri-service Commands: Special Operations, Cyber and Space.

True C4ISR capability is also much more than ISR. ISR systems generate mountains of data that may include satellite imagery, electronic signals, moving-target data and full-motion video. Intelligence analysts have to quickly collate and analyse the data, get rid of “false positives” and disseminate what they have learned in the form of intelligible and useful reports. Indeed, experts advise that data-analysis tools should be accorded as much importance as sophisticated and expensive sensors. Military forces everywhere are only just beginning to realise the magnitude of the task, including that of recruiting and training personnel with the gift of analysing endless ISR feeds. Till now the trend has been one of data collection for collection’s sake while information sharing often lags behind. This is all the more applicable in India where one service’s ISR resources may acquire data not immediately useful to the parent service but potentially of immense value to the other services, paramilitary forces or civilian investigative agencies. All need to cooperate in deciding the most appropriate response irrespective of who gets the glory.