Indian Navy's Shakti EW Upgrade: Enhancing Warship Survivability

Indian Navy's Shakti EW Upgrade: Enhancing Warship Survivability\n\nThe Indian Navy has taken a significant step towards bolstering its warship survivability by seeking the Shakti electronic warfare (EW) system to replace the legacy Ellora Mk-II suites on an existing warship.\n\nAccording to a recent social media statement, the Navy has issued a single tender Request for Proposal (RFP) to Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) for one Shakti EW system, with an 18-month delivery timeframe. The equipment will be delivered to the Weapon Equipment Depot, Visakhapatnam.\n\nWhile the Navy has not independently confirmed the receipt of the specific RFP, nor has the target ship been identified, one Shivalik-class frigate has been named as a possible platform.\n\nThe procurement mentioned in the report would be for one Shakti EW set only, possibly for a refit/replacement programme, not the Navy's general-purpose EW equipment procurement.\n\nIn February 2024, the Ministry of Defence signed a ₹2,269.54 crore contract with BEL for 11 Shakti EW sets and accessories for the Indian Navy, with the deal falling under the category of Buy (Indian-IDDM), which covers indigenously designed, developed and manufactured equipment.\n\nThe Shakti EW system is designed to detect, intercept, classify and identify enemy radar signals before countering them with electronic countermeasures.\n\nDeveloped by the Defence Electronics Research Laboratory (DLRL), Hyderabad, under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the Shakti EW system combines electronic support measures (ESM) and electronic countermeasures (ECM) equipment.\n\nESM receivers on a warship can detect and analyse hostile radar signals, while ECM can provide electronic attack to jam enemy radar.\n\nThe combination provides protection against radar-guided anti-ship missiles.\n\nFitting Shakti on a warship would provide an upgrade over the Ellora system and would also allow the Navy to transition to a modern indigenous EW architecture.\n\nIndian warships are becoming more survivable in the face of growing hostile maritime capabilities, where the ability to counter advanced surveillance radars, seekers and anti-ship missiles is being emphasised.\n\nWith the Shakti EW system, the Indian Navy can enhance its warship survivability and protect its vessels from advanced threats.\n\nThis upgrade is a significant step towards modernising the Navy's electronic warfare capabilities and ensuring its warships remain effective in the face of evolving threats.\n\nIn conclusion, the Indian Navy's decision to upgrade its warship survivability with the Shakti EW system is a strategic move towards enhancing its electronic warfare capabilities and protecting its vessels from advanced threats.