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{{About|the IAF's AFNet|the USAF's AFNet|Air Force Network Integration Center}}

'''Air Force Network''' (AFNet) is an [[Indian Air Force]] (IAF) owned, operated and managed digital information grid. The AFNet replaces the [[Indian Air Force]]'s (IAF) old communication network set-up using the tropo-scatter technology of the 1950s making it a true net-centric combat force. The IAF project is part of the overall mission to network all three services, that is The [[Indian Army]], The [[Indian Navy]] and The [[Indian Air Force]]. The former Defence Minister [[AK Antony]] inaugurated the IAF's the AFNET on 14 September 2010 dedicating it to the people of India, for their direct or indirect participation in the communication revolution.<ref name=iaf_press_release>{{Cite web |url=http://indianairforce.nic.in/show_pressrelease.php?pg_id=107&news_id=562 |title=Press Release by Indian Air Force - Press Information Bureau(Defence Wing) Government of India |access-date=2010-09-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100922122516/http://indianairforce.nic.in/show_pressrelease.php?pg_id=107&news_id=562 |archive-date=2010-09-22 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Background==
Armed Forces in [[India]] has been using troposcatters as primary means of [[military communications]] since the 1950s, thereby occupying huge and expensive [[2G]] and [[3G]] [[spectrum]]s which otherwise could have been used for expanding and de-clogging the civilian [[wireless communication]] network. The rapid expansion of civilian [[mobile telephony]] leading to need for larger [[Bandwidth (signal processing)|bandwidth]] for [[wireless communication]] and commercial need to operate the 3G [[Telecommunications network|network]] necessitated the [[Government of India]] to have the Indian Armed Forces vacate the spectrum occupied by them.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2007/08/25/stories/2007082552191000.htm |title=Defence open to vacating spectrum |access-date=2010-09-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090805021000/http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2007/08/25/stories/2007082552191000.htm |archive-date=2009-08-05 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Thus the government of India through Department of Telecommunication (DoT) started a project called "Network for Spectrum" to set up a fiber optics network for the exclusive use of Indian Armed Forces in exchange for spectrum being released by the Defence Forces.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.itexaminer.com/indian-army-prepares-for-a-digitised-battlefield.aspx |title=Indian army prepares for a digitised battlefield |access-date=2010-09-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100125232609/http://www.itexaminer.com/indian-army-prepares-for-a-digitised-battlefield.aspx |archive-date=2010-01-25 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The aim of 'Network for Spectrum' being twofold - to facilitate the growth of national tele-density on the one hand, and ensuring modernization of defence communications with the state-of-the-art communication infrastructure, and to support net-centric military operations.<ref name="iaf_press_release" />

The Department of Telecom and the Ministry of Defence signed the memorandum of understanding for vacating the spectrum and setting up dedicated network for the use of defence forces. In this MoU, DoT agreed to laying of 40,000 route kilometres of [[optical fibre cable]] connecting 219 Army stations, 33 Navy stations and 162 points for the Air Force. It further agreed to setting up an exclusive defence band and Defence Interest Zone along 100 km of the international border, where spectrum will be reserved only for use by the Armed Forces. The total cost of implementing "Network for Spectrum" project is estimated to be {{Indian Rupee}} 10,000 crores.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2009/05/23/stories/2009052352080100.htm |title=DoT, Defence Ministry bury the hatchet on spectrum vacation |access-date=2010-09-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090629234039/http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2009/05/23/stories/2009052352080100.htm |archive-date=2009-06-29 |url-status=dead }}</ref> AFNet is Indian Air Force component of Digital Information Grid under "Network for Spectrum" project and the AFNet is likely to be extended and connected to the Digital Information Grid Project under implementation for the Indian Navy and the Indian Army by 2015.<ref name="unified_grid">{{Cite web |url=http://www.indian-military.org/news-archives/indian-army-news/987-air-force-network-afnet-frees-frequencies-for-telecom.html |title=Air Force Network AFNet frees frequencies for telecom |access-date=2010-09-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100919002126/http://www.indian-military.org/news-archives/indian-army-news/987-air-force-network-afnet-frees-frequencies-for-telecom.html |archive-date=2010-09-19 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Project Origin==
The Air Force Network (AFNet) has been developed by the [[Indian Air Force]] at a cost of {{Indian Rupee}}1,077 crore in collaboration with [[HCL Technologies]] and [[Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited]].<ref name="tm">[http://www.tradingmarkets.com/news/stock-alert/csco_iaf-digitizes-information-network-with-afnet-1169384.html IAF digitizes information network with Afnet]{{Dead link|date=October 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> It will replace the Air Force's more than half-a-century-old telecom network. This project is part of the defence ministry's initiative to digitize the communication systems of the three armed forces under "Network for Spectrum" initiative to improve coordination among themselves and other Military and Strategic Institution.
IAF was the first to complete this gigabyte digital information grid implemented under the AFNet project. AFnet was inaugurated and dedicated to people of India on 14 September 2010 by the Defence Minister Shri [[AK Antony]] in presence of Union Minister of Communication & IT Shri A Raja, [[Marshal of the Air Force]] [[Arjan Singh]], [[Chief of the Air Staff (India)|Chief of the Air Staff]], Chief of the Army Staff and other officials from the three services and members of the Industry.<ref name="iaf_press_release" /> AFNet will be connected and extended to a Unified Digital Grid encompassing all the legs of Indian Armed Forces.<ref name="unified_grid" />

==Technology, Design & Structure==
AFNet incorporates the latest traffic transportation technology in form of IP ([[Internet Protocol]]) packets over the network using [[Multi Protocol Label Switching]] ([[MPLS]]). A large [[VoIP]] ([[Voice over Internet Protocol]]) layer with stringent quality of service enforcement will facilitate robust, high quality voice, video and conferencing solutions.<ref name="livefist">[http://livefist.blogspot.com/2010/09/iafs-afnet-goes-live-next-week.html IAF's AFNET NCW Backbone Goes Live Next Week]</ref>

[[Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS)]], an automated [[command and control]] system for [[Air Defence]] (AD) operations will ride the AFNet backbone integrating all ground-based and airborne sensors, AD weapon systems and C2 nodes. Subsequent integration with other services networks and civil radars will provide an integrated Air Situation Picture to operators to carry out Air Defence role.<ref name="livefist" />

AFNet will prove to be an effective force multiplier for intelligence analysis, mission planning and control, post-mission feedback and related activities like maintenance, logistics and administration. A comprehensive design with multi-layer security precautions for “Defence in Depth” have been planned by incorporating [[encryption]] technologies, Intrusion Prevention Systems to ensure the resistance of the IT system against information manipulation and [[eavesdropping]].<ref name="livefist" /> The network is secured with a host of advanced state-of-the-art encryption technologies. It is designed for high reliability with redundancy built into the network design itself.<ref name="iaf_press_release" />

The AFNet is also capable of transmitting video from unmanned surveillance aircraft ([[UAV]]), pictures from airborne warning and control systems ([[Airborne early warning and control|AWACS]]) to decision makers on the ground and providing intelligence inputs from remote areas.<ref name="tm" />

The AFNet is also expected to facilitate accelerated economic growth by providing radio frequency spectrum for telecommunication purposes. AFNET will be the largest Multi-protocol Label Switching (MPLS) network in the defence segment.<ref name="iaf_press_release" />

==Demonstration==
At the AFNet launch, the IAF showcased a practice interception of simulated enemy targets by a pair of Mig-29 fighter aircraft airborne from an advanced airbase in the Punjab sector using the gigabyte digital information grid. During the AFNet-assisted operations, the Indian fighter jets neutralised intruding targets in the western sector, which was played out live on the giant screens at the Air Force auditorium offering a glimpse of the harnessed potential of the system. The final orders for engaging the enemy targets were issued live by Antony, whose queries about how the operation went was responded to by the pilot as "excellent".<ref name="iaf_press_release" /><ref name="outlook">[https://archive.today/20130130214026/http://news.outlookindia.com/item.aspx?693464 Outlook India: IAF Kick Starts AFNET Enabling Network Centric Warfare]</ref>

Various other functionalities contributing towards Network Centric Warfare were also showcased. These consisted of facilitating video from Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), pictures from an AWACS aircraft to the decision-makers on ground sitting hundreds of kilometres away, providing intelligence inputs from far-flung areas at central locations seamlessly. This was possible mainly with the robust networking platform provided by AFNet.<ref name="iaf_press_release" /><ref name="outlook" />

==Integrated Air Command and Control System==
'''Integrated Air Command and Control System''' ('''IACCS''') is an automated command and control system for AD planned by the [[Indian Air Force]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indrastra.com/2015/09/ANALYSIS-IACCS-257.html|title=ANALYSIS {{!}} India's Integrated Air Command & Control System (IACCS) : A NCW Milestone|website=www.indrastra.com|access-date=2020-04-06}}</ref> IACCS operations will ride the AFNET backbone integrating all ground-based and airborne sensors, [[air defense]] (AD) weapon systems and [[command and control]] (C2) nodes. Subsequent integration with other services networks and civil radars will provide an integrated Air Situation Picture to operators to carry out AD role.<ref name="india_def">[http://www.india-defence.com/reports-4506 AFNET to Herald Network Centric Operations in Indian Air Force]</ref>

Through the IACCS, IAF will connect all of its space, air and ground assets quickly, for total awareness of a region. This will offer connectivity for all the ground platforms and airborne platforms, as a part of the network centricity of IAF. The IACCS also facilitates real-time transport of images, data and voice, amongst satellites, aircraft and ground stations.<ref name="toi">[https://web.archive.org/web/20121103135445/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-09-26/chennai/28247672_1_iaf-indian-air-force-air-officer times of India: IAF to get more flying machines]</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Indian Air Force]]
[[Category:Military equipment of India]]
[[Category:Military technology]]
[[Category:Military communications]]
[[Category:Computer networks]]

Air Force Network - Revision history

>GreenC bot at 15:02, 16 April 2021