Indian Army developing Tactical Communication System (TCS) to modernize military communication; Naval fighter jet MIG makes first landing on INS Vikramaditya
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  • Reports noted that Indian Army is working on providing a safe and seamless exchange of data between various formations involved in fighting a modern war. Army's Signal Officer-in-Chief Lt General S P Kochhar said, "The need for a state-of-the-art Tactical Communication System (TCS) has been long felt. The TCS being conceived for the force will bridge the gap between existing and contemporary technologies in the sphere of military communication." "An information grid is required to be established to generate precise war-fighting effects and orchestrated operations at an unprecedented operational tempo," Kochhar said, highlighting the need for establishing an independent defence communication network. Further, noting that a network-centric force will have the ability to share and exchange information in "near real time", he said, "Challenge is to achieve a successful integration of sensors, shooters and decision makers through a dynamic, reliable and secure loop." For the TCS project two development agencies- Bharat Electronics (BEL) and a consortium of L&T, Tata Power and HCL Infosys Ltd- has been selected by the government as per the laid down norms of Defence Procurement Policy. 1
    In another development, according to reports, a Russian-built fighter jet has made the first landing on the INS Vikramaditya as part of comprehensive sea trials, the aircraft carrier is undergoing ahead of its induction in the Indian Navy later this year. A MiG-29KUB two-seat naval fighter jet landed on the Vikramaditya’s deck for the first time on July 28, 2012 after performing several touch-and-go approaches in the Barents Sea in the Russian Arctic. The former Soviet Admiral Gorshkov heavy aviation cruiser, rechristened Vikramaditya, has been extensively refurbished and upgraded to a light aircraft carrier at the Sevmash shipyard in the Russian city of Severodvinsk under a $2.3 billion contract with India. It had its flight deck extended and turned into a full runway with a ski jump and arrestor wires. A MiG-35 jet will also be used for landings and take-offs from the flight deck of the aircraft carrier to test its new short-takeoff-but-assisted recovery (STOBAR) system. 2

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