The project for tactical communication system (TCS) for the Indian Army has been undertaken under the “Make Procedure” category. TCS is expected to become operational by 2014. In the first instance, it is likely to be established in the Strike Corps and later with the Pivot (Holding) Corps.

In military communications, a tactical communications system (TCS) is generally employed within or in direct support of tactical forces. It is designed to meet the requirements of changing tactical situations and varying environmental conditions, and provides secure communications, such as voice, data, and video, among mobile/static users to facilitate command and control within, and in support of tactical forces. It usually requires short installation times, in order to meet the requirements of frequent relocation.

TCS in the Indian Army

In the Indian Army, TCS is planned to replace Army radio engineering network (AREN) system currently being used. The current AREN system uses radio relay equipment (commonly referred to as RR equipment) to connect Brigade level headquarters to Division and Corps level headquarters on the battlefield. Based on the type of mobility required, the RR equipment of offensive formations, of Strike Corps, whose missions invariably lie across the border is generally mounted on high mobility wheeled or tracked vehicles while those of defensive formations are based on normal wheeled lorries. Rear of the Corps headquarters, up to the Regional Commands and to Army headquarters, the communications acquire a more static configuration, relying more on fibre optics and satellite links and less on radio.

TCS being designed now will cover the entire communication system from Corps headquarters down to Battalion/Regiment level in the Army and hence it is the most vital communication project for the Indian Army. The new radio relay (RR) equipment envisaged in the TCS system will be of much higher capacity as compared to the old RR sets. The new RR sets will have a capacity of about 34 Mb/s as compared to about 1 Mb in the old sets. The RR communications will comprise of mobile cellular communications for each entity at the corps, division, brigade and at the battalion/regiment level. The entire communication will be mobile, achieved through base transmitting stations (BTS) which would be mobile. At the unit level, high capacity Internet protocol radios (IP radios) are planned to be given which would be capable of both data and voice communications. In the final stage, software defined radios (SDRs) would replace the IP radios.

In the rear of the Corps headquarters, the backbone communication will be provided by the Army Static Communication nodes (ASCON). Currently, Phase 3 of the ASCON project is functional. When ASCON Phase 4 combined with fibre optics laid countrywide becomes operational, there would be enough capacity for all types of communication required by the network centricity planned by the Army and within the three Services.

Network Enabled Warfare Capability

The advances in the field of communications, computers, command and control, information and interoperability [C4I2] have provided military capabilities to view the battlespace as one composite whole and thus be tackled jointly or singly by any weapon of any service which is within range. Interoperability will be the essence for the different C4I2 systems of the three services (Army, Navy and the Air Force). C4I2 system together with the tactical communication system will allow network enabled warfare, connecting sensors, shooters and decisionmakers at all levels.

Battle Management System (BMS) and F-INSAS

This system is being planned at battalion/regiment and forward of it to companies, platoons, sections and forward of that would be the future infantry soldier as a system (F-INSAS) which would take the communications down to the individual infantry soldier. These systems would be applicable for all arms and services of the Army. The communications at this level will be based on IP radios currently, and later software defined radios (SDR) and the system will comprise of a tactical hand-held computer with individual soldiers and tactical computers at Battle Group headquarters and combat vehicles. Computers will be integrated employing application and database servers connected on a data enabled communication network. The system will enable generation of common operational picture by integrating inputs from all relevant sources within a battle group by integrated use of geographic information system (GIS) and global positioning system (GPS). The BMS will be a highly mobile system which is able to network itself by integration of components and provide high data rate. The communications systems will optimally utilise the bandwidth available for military communications involving voice and data including video streaming and imageries. It should be scalable to ensure its availability to all elements and range from being manportable to being fitted in combat vehicles.