In the country’s northern and eastern borders, the Indian armed services are implementing a domestic innovation that will assist commanders in recognising friendly soldiers in a combined battlespace.
This would make complex operations easier to coordinate and prevent mistakes like the fratricide that occurred in Budgam following the Balakot airstrikes in 2019 from happening again.
Wing Commander Vishal Mishra, an Indian Air Force helicopter pilot, created the Vayulink system (IAF). The identification of friendly troops in a combat situation, whether they are airborne or on the ground, through secure, jammer-proof communication, he said, will not only assist boost battlefield transparency, but it will also equip pilots with precise meteorological data prior to flight.
The IAF displayed the Vayulink system at the Aero India 2023 exhibition in Bengaluru last month. Top IAF personnel said that the system’s operational deployment testing are now complete. “The deployment-related procurement is in the works. Mass deployment of the system will begin in all advanced locations as soon as the purchase is finished, an official stated.
The Sunday Express was informed by Air Marshal Narmdeshwar Tiwari, Deputy Chief of the Air Force, that the Vayulink ecosystem is a proprietary tactical data link technology.
“It integrates inputs available from multiple sources in a joint battlefield and provides near real-time data to operators, thereby vastly improving their situational awareness and consequently aiding in effective decision making,” he said.
“The IAF has already deployed the system on a trial basis at forward locations in the Western and Northern sectors. We are planning to further enhance the reach and applicability of the system in future,” he said.
Wing Commander Mishra said :
“The Vayulink is essentially a data link system that unites all entities, combat and non-combat, over a single connection.”
“The technology assist you in locating all friendly soldiers on a battlefield, even those who are serving in support roles. The device can assist all planes in locating ground troops and each other’s positions in a complicated battle situation.”
The technology, he claimed, may have a range of uses and not restricted to one service. But can unite all combat entities through a single connection. It has also accepted into the Army as Trishul link.
The technology has the potential to increase the efficiency of operations. Particularly complicated ones like the one conducted in response to the Pathankot air base terror assault in 2016.
Despite IAF helicopters assisting ground forces, the counter-terrorism operations in Pathankot lasted nearly four days. Terrorists who had penetrated the air base killed seven security personnel.