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Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS)
How India’s air defence shield works
Context: At the recent media briefing on Operation Sindoor, Indian military officials unveiled a powerful visual of the Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS) node operated by the Indian Air Force (IAF).
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- The image depicted over two dozen IAF personnel monitoring a massive digital screen displaying a real-time, consolidated air threat feed, generated by India’s networked air defence systems.
- This integrated display was a live demonstration of how India successfully deployed a multi-layered aerial shield to counter potential threats from Pakistan during last week’s military standoff.
What Is IACCS?
- Developed by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), a leading public sector aerospace and defence electronics company, the IACCS is an automated, real-time command and control system.
- It synthesises data from diverse sources—including ground-based and airborne radars, civilian aviation radars, communication nodes, and the IAF’s command centres—into a unified operational picture.
- This holistic view empowers commanders at all levels with situational awareness and faster decision-making to counter threats ranging from enemy aircraft to missiles and drones.
- By enabling centralised control with decentralised execution, IACCS significantly reduces response time, allowing quick threat identification, risk assessment, and deployment of air defence assets to neutralise incoming aerial attacks.
- Its overlapping radar and communication coverage ensures seamless airspace management and eliminates redundancy in tracking and response.
Indian Army’s Akashteer: A Complementary System
- The Indian Army is also building its own version of an integrated air defence management system, called Akashteer.
- Also developed by BEL under a ₹1,982 crore contract signed in March 2023, Akashteer is designed to monitor low-level airspace and coordinate ground-based air defence weapons across battle zones.
- While still operating at a relatively smaller scale, Akashteer is currently being integrated with IACCS to improve interoperability between the Army and the Air Force in joint air defence operations.
A Multi-Layered Defence Grid
India’s air defence system operates on a multi-layered architecture, offering both point and area defence capabilities:
- Layer 1: Counter-drone systems and MANPADS (Man-Portable Air Defence Systems)
- Layer 2 & 3: Point air defence with short- and medium-range surface-to-air missiles
- Layer 4: Long-range missile systems for extended coverage
- Radars: This framework is supported by a suite of modern surveillance radars including ground-based systems, AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control Systems), and AEW&C (Airborne Early Warning & Control) aircraft, all fully integrated into the IACCS grid.
- These assets are crucial for the early detection, tracking, and interception of hostile airborne intrusions.
Future of IACCS and Air Defence Modernisation
- In recent years, the IAF has stepped up efforts to enhance air defence preparedness at key installations by deploying advanced radar systems and Surface-to-Air Guided Weapon (SAGW) platforms—all linked via the IACCS.
- As warfare evolves with the introduction of hypersonic weapons, swarm drones, and electronic warfare, the role of real-time integration and intelligent threat analysis becomes increasingly vital.
