Integration of IRNSS on IAF Fighter Aircraft

Abstract

Flying an aircraft from one point to another is the most important part of any mission. It assumes even greater importance when fighter aircraft use this navigational data for accurate navigation to the target area, target identification, and subsequently for targeting with lethal weapons.

Almost all fighter aircraft use INS (Inertial Navigation System) and GPS (Global Positioning System) as primary onboard navigational aids. The accuracy of the system depends on accurate updates from assured services, and the desired accuracy is determined by the owner country’s policies, which may not always align with our own. This is the most probable reason why all competent nations develop their own systems.

India, too, has its own system known as IRNSS (Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System). The system is fully operational, providing coverage over the Indian subcontinent. The integration of IRNSS on fighter aircraft and other weapon systems will reduce dependency on foreign navigation systems. IRNSS, being an indigenous navigation system designed specifically to give coverage over the Indian subcontinent, will be more accurate, and the receivers designed for it will be more resistant to jamming. This will not only improve the accuracy of our navigation systems but also make them more robust.