IAF develops platform for jam-proof communication

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: The Indian Air Force has come out with an innovative solution that would aid pilots in dealing with bad weather and also provide jamproof uninterrupted communication with the base station.

Known as Vayulink, the data link communication uses the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) that is also known as NAVIC, to send radio communication to the base station when the signals are low, an IAF officer involved in the project said. The important aspect of the technological solution is that it prevents fratricide or friendly fire, he added.

The IAF has put up the Vayulink gallery to give information about its platform at the India Pavilion in the ongoing Aero India 2023 here. "Vayulink is an ad-hoc data link communication system, which when installed in an aircraft, gives position of other aircrafts close by, encrypted traffic data over secured channel," Wing Commander Vishal Mishra told.

When the planes are flying close to any friendly forces on grounds during a combat situation, the aircraft display gives the position of such forces on the ground including tanks and troops beneath, the IAF officer said. The system can also give the pilots data on the weather, he added.

HAL gets DGCA nod for indigenously developed 'black boxes'

The Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd said on Thursday it has received the Indian Technical Standard Order (ITSO) authorisation from Directorate General of Civil Aviation for its indigenously developed Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) and Flight Data Recorder (FDR).

 The ITSO is a minimum performance standard for specified materials, parts, processes, and appliances used on civil aircraft, the Bengaluru-headquartered HAL noted in a statement. CVR and FDR are popularly known as 'black boxes'.

However, these recorders are painted in orange colour to help in their recovery following an aircraft accident. CVR and FDR are used to record critical flight parameters and audio environment in a crash proof memory which is later used for investigation of aircraft incident or accident, it was noted.