The battlefield in contemporary combat encompasses not only the tangible landscape but also the unseen electromagnetic spectrum (EMS). In order to gain combat supremacy, Electronic Warfare (EW) entails the strategic use of the EMS to intercept, interfere with, and control adversary radar systems and communications. In addition to being a defense necessity, understanding EW offers India a significant chance to advance its electronics and semiconductor sectors, innovation ecosystem, and aspirations for international defense exports.
India’s ability to detect, analyze, jam, and disrupt adversary electronic signals across a wide frequency spectrum has advanced significantly thanks to indigenous systems like the Divya Drishti ELINT system, the Army’s Samyukta EW platform, and the Navy’s Shakti EW Suite.
Asia-Pacific is expected to lead the growth in the global EW market, which is expected to reach $25 billion by 2028. Government initiatives like the Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020 and Positive Indigenization Lists, along with India’s defense modernization plans that invest more than ₹1.5 lakh crore in electronics-heavy systems, are fostering the domestic manufacturing of vital EW subsystems like radar warning systems, jamming pods, and receivers.
Over the next five years, India’s EW market is anticipated to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8–10% because to the favorable policy environment and a strong local supply chain bolstered by programs like Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes for electronics and semiconductor fabs.
Numerous B2B opportunities are made available by electronic warfare at various stages of the value chain. High-performance radio frequency (RF) components like microwave monolithic integrated circuits (MMICs), low-noise receivers, and amplifiers are in greater demand. For real-time signal analysis, embedded processing platforms including FPGAs, GPUs, and bespoke ASICs are essential.
Cognitive EW capabilities, which allow for automatic signal identification, categorization, and anomaly detection, depend on software solutions that make use of artificial intelligence and machine learning. Furthermore, Indian original equipment manufacturers are in a position to offer testing services and tough, military-grade enclosures that meet strict MIL-STD certifications.
India’s EW initiatives have developed into comprehensive multi-domain warfare capabilities on the operational front. Mobility and efficacy are offered by integrated platforms like Samyukta and Himashakti, especially in difficult geographic locations like high-altitude border regions.
Cyber-Electromagnetic Activities (CEMA), the combination of EW and cyberwarfare, enable coordinated offensive and defensive operations in the digital and electromagnetic domains, improving the disruption of adversary networks and communications. The boundaries of EW are further expanded by emerging technologies like directed energy weapons, which neutralize drones and missiles using high-power microwave systems. Higher-speed interception and jamming capabilities are promised with the incorporation of 5G and beyond commercial wireless technologies.
The direct impact that EMS control has on battlefield success highlights its strategic significance. Even before physical actions start, enemy command and control, logistical, and communication infrastructures can be disrupted by establishing electromagnetic dominance. With the help of AI-powered adaptive EW systems and real-time situational awareness, this spectrum supremacy provides a crucial tactical edge against asymmetric threats and near-peer adversaries.
In addition to defense, India is establishing itself as a major participant in the export of electronic warfare technology, focusing on friendly nations in Africa and Southeast Asia. EW goods are especially appealing for international defense commerce due to their high value-to-weight ratio. To seize this global opportunity, Indian companies must invest in defence-grade R&D, secure strict compliance certifications, forge international technology partnerships, and capitalise on government incentives like iDEX and the DRDO Technology Development Fund.
In India, electronic warfare is both a high-growth business frontier and a strategic need. India is ready to take the lead in the EMS field thanks to a well-coordinated government policy, developing domestic skills, innovative research, and increasing industrial involvement.
In addition to ensuring national defense dominance, controlling this unseen battlefield will enable India’s electronics sector to prosper in the global defense technology market. India’s electronic warfare sector is prepared to lead the spectrum battlefield, which is definitely open.
Understanding The Electromagnetic Spectrum For Strategic Defense And Industry Development In India’s Electronic Warfare
