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NewswireToday - /newswire/ -
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India, 04/11/2008 - In a country as large and diverse as India, the use of Network Enabled Systems by defence, intelligence, internal security, disaster and law enforcement agencies are the need of the hour.
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Surrounded by a long international boundary, parts of which are not yet fully demarcated, a long coast line with a huge exclusive economic zone that is gaining significance by the day, the diverse internal security problems and regular occurrences of natural disasters therefore call for quick reaction by multiple agencies. Thus, a common data base and shared resources will ensure timely reaction, commonality of purpose, economy of effort and functional synergy.
The Indian Army, Navy and Air Force have well laid-out plans to transform themselves from platform-centric to network-centric operations which, when fully implemented, will offer unprecedented transparency to what is commonly called the fog and dust of war. Networking will involve not just decision makers at the strategic, operational and tactical levels, but interlink and integrate all units participating in various operations, from high-flying long endurance UAVs to soldiers in trenches. Further, Network Enabled Systems will make operations by day more efficient and accurate; and operations by night will become as effective as those by day. Joint operations will blur the distinction between various units, regardless of whether they are ‘owned’ by one service or the other.
A similar revolution is needed in integrating the Coast Guard, paramilitary forces, police, customs, fire fighting and other services. Recent occurrences such as the devastating earthquakes in Bhuj and Kashmir and the Indian Ocean tsunami involved reaction from multi-discipline governmental and voluntary agencies, which worked tirelessly to provide immediate and long-term succour to the affected population. However, these organisations usually worked individually, often oblivious of similar work being done in nearby places, and were unable to make full use of available resources; and sometimes unwittingly working at cross purposes. I see the future scenario as being vastly improved with all agencies working within a common data and communications grid, with medical, logistics, transportation and other facilities being seamlessly and fully shared. While it may not be possible to mandate network enabled capability for self-help groups and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), those branches of government which are required to operate in conditions of uncertainty would benefit enormously by the rapid strides offered by network enabled technologies. However, in the long term, I foresee an integrated system of systems which would allow NGOs to also participate as full members of the network, thus providing succour to affected populations by optimal use of scarce resources.
The Network Enabled Capability Exhibition, being organised in Delhi from 6th to 8th November 2008 will be an excellent platform for potential user agencies to see the state-of-art technology in the field of practical networking and get a chance to discuss substantive issues that impinge on their special requirements with a wide cross section of international and indigenous system manufacturers and vendors.
Air Marshal Subhash Bhojwani's last three appointments with the Indian Air Force have been Commandant, Air Force Academy, Senior Air Staff Officer (SASO) Western Air Command and Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Training Command, Bangalore.
© Copyright Air Marshal S. Bhojwani and Informa India. All rights reserved.
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