Draft:Artillery Combat Command and Control System: Difference between revisions

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The '''Artillery Combat Command and Control System''' ('''ACCCS''')''',''' under '''Project SHAKTI''' ({{Lit|Power}}) is an indigenous, integrated, [[digitized]], networked system developed by the [[Indian Army]]'s Directorate General of Information Systems (Project Management Organization), in partnership with [[Bharat Electronics]], [[Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics|Center for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics]], and [[Armament Research and Development Establishment]].

It is Indian Army's first Combat Command, Control, &and Information (C3I) system. The ACCCS automates and supports decision-making for all operational facets, from the [[corps]] to the level of [[artillery battery]]. It is the central ___location for the [[Regiment of Artillery (India)|Regiment of Artillery]]'s fire power component, which is designed to seamlessly integrate with the C3I grid. The [[List of serving generals of the Indian Army#Heads of Combat and Combat Support Arms|Director General of Artillery]] [[Lieutenant general (India)|Lieutenant General]] KR Rao, and [[Chief of the Army Staff (India)|Chief of the Army Staff]] [[General (India)|General]] [[Deepak Kapoor]] received the ACCCS on 12 June 2009.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |date=12 June 2009 |title=SHAKTI dedication to Indian Army |url=https://www.pib.gov.in/newsite/erelcontent.aspx?relid=49161 |access-date=8 July 2025 |work=[[Press Information Bureau]] |agency=Ministry of Defence, Government of India.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Artillery Combat Command Control System (ACCCS) |url=https://bel-india.in/product/artillery-combat-command-control-system-acccs/ |access-date=8 July 2025 |website=Bharat Electronics Limited}}</ref>

The Command Information Decision Support System of the Indian Army, which is a component of the larger Tactical Command, Control, Communications, and Information (TAC-C3I) System, is connected to ACCCS.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Katoch (Retd) |first=Lt. General P.C. |date=14 February 2025 |title=SANJAY Battlefield Surveillance System |url=https://www.spslandforces.com/experts-speak/?id=1238&h=SANJAY-Battlefield-Surveillance-System |access-date=2025-07-09 |website=spslandforces.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2005-10-03 |title=TAC C3I - A shot in the arm for Indian Army |url=https://www.rediff.com/news/report/army/20051003.htm |access-date=2025-07-09 |website=Rediff |language=en}}</ref> It is further evolving into '''Artillery Combat Command Control and Communication System''' ('''ACCCCS'''), which makes use of [[artificial intelligence]], [[machine learning]], and [[Survey of India]]'s Defence Series Maps.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dutta |first=Amrita Nayak |date=2023-05-06 |title=Army working on multiple automation projects to aid decision making, effective logistics management |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/army-working-on-multiple-automation-projects-8594159/ |access-date=2025-07-09 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Singh |first=Rahul |date=2023-05-06 |title=Army harnesses tech for battlefield supremacy |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/indian-army-s-project-avagat-to-bring-multi-___domain-spatial-awareness-for-improved-battlefield-transparency-and-faster-decision-making-101683312630043.html |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240624004611/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/indian-army-s-project-avagat-to-bring-multi-___domain-spatial-awareness-for-improved-battlefield-transparency-and-faster-decision-making-101683312630043.html |archive-date=2024-06-24 |access-date=2025-07-09 |work=[[Hindustan Times]] |language=en-us}}</ref>

== System ==

It is one of the most effective operational information systems used by the Indian Army and is always being improved.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2023-05-06 |title=Army working on mega surveillance system to get real time operational pictures |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/army-working-on-creating-battlefield-surveillance-system-for-composite-operational-picture-2375770-2023-05-06 |access-date=2025-07-08 |website=India Today |language=en}}</ref> Technical control for accuracy based on time and ___location accuracy, tactical fire control, fire planning, deployment management to attain maximum fire densities at critical areas, and operational logistics management are allaccomplished tasks that theby ACCCS can accomplish. It can focus artillery firepower at the tactical scale and deliver devastating hits at important positions with consolidated firepower.<ref name=":0" /> TheComponents like the hand-held computer, the gun display unit, and an upgraded tactical computer are manufactured by Bharat Electronics.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2009-06-09 |title=Army to induct first network-centric artillery system |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/latest-news/army-to-induct-first-networkcentric-artillery-system/ |access-date=2025-07-09 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref>

The project has a {{INRConvert|36|b|-2}} price tag as of 2007. According to a report dated 22 November 2007, ACCCS was experiencing technical issues and the project was behind schedule. Help from abroad has been sought to fix it. [[Bharat Electronics|BEL]] denied technical issues and informed about the change in qualitative requirements in the middle for computers and other subsystems by the Indian Army. As per sources from [[Ministry of Defence (India)|Ministry of Defense]], BEL purchased outdated computers from [[Elbit Systems]] as a stopgap, until indigenous development was complete. For which, the Indian Army wanted the upgrade. The American [[Army Battle Command System]] served as the foundation for Project SHAKTI.

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The Indian Army is working on a number of programs to achieve information supremacy in all areas. The Army is establishing captive [[Data center|data centers]] throughout the nation, which will be fully operational by the end of 2023, in order to operationalize the upgrades over a high-bandwidth secure network.<ref name=":1" />

On 20 January 2013, the Indian Army received a new artillery combat and control system dubbed Shakti from BEL in collaboration with [[DRDO]] to meet the [[network-centric warfare]] requirement. It will be the primary subsystem of the Army's Tactical Command Control & Communication Intelligence (TAC-C3I) system. The improved tactical computer, handheld computer, and gun display unit that make up Shakti are all connected via [[fiber-optic cable]], [[Landline|landlines]], or tactical radio networks. Shakti integrates and automates artillery operating tasks using software that integrates with the [[Global Navigation Satellite System]] (GNSS) and [[Geographic information system|Geographic Information System]] (GIS). Shakti's primary responsibilities include calculating trajectories, handling fire requests, managing ammunition, recommending gun deployment locations and observation posts for both offensive and defensive operations, providing ammunition and logistical support on time, and creating task tables, fire plans, and automatic gun program generation. BEL andcollaborated DRDOwith collaboratedthe [[DRDO]] to builddevelop the system software. Numerous user assessments, integration testing, verification and validation trials, and a comprehensive field evaluation trial have all been conducted on it.<ref>{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=20 January 2013 |title=BEL delivers new artillery combat system to Army |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/bel-delivers-new-artillery-combat-system-to-army-109061300065_1.html |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20230113172804/https://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/bel-delivers-new-artillery-combat-system-to-army-109061300065_1.html |archive-date=2023-01-13 |access-date=2025-07-08 |work=[[Business Standard]] |language=en}}</ref>

A project sanction order has been issued as of 2022 for the development of high frequency [[software-defined radio]] (HFSDR) under Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020 (Make II category). The Indian Army plans to acquire 300 HFSDRs. It will enable long-distance radio communication and [[GIS]]-based [[blue force tracking]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=4 November 2022 |title=Indian Army Approves Five make II Projects Providing Impetus to “Atma Nirbhaarta” |url=https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1873674 |access-date=9 July 2025 |work=[[Press Information Bureau]] |agency=Ministry of Defence, Government of India.}}</ref> As part of the Year of Transformation 2023, the Indian Army is updating the ACCCS with new [[Situation awareness|situational awareness]] modules and extremely realistic defenseDefense seriesSeries mapsMaps.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=2023-05-12 |title=Indian Army gears up to overhaul its network-centric battlefield, military logistics projects |url=https://www.financialexpress.com/business/defence-indian-army-gears-up-to-overhaul-its-network-centric-battlefield-military-logistics-projects-3085063/ |access-date=2025-07-09 |website=The Financial Express |language=en}}</ref>

=== Project Sanjay ===

In order to complete the sensor-shooter grid by connecting it to the ACCCS, the Indian Army began working with [[Bharat Electronics|BEL]] in partnership with [[Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics|CAIR]] to design Battlefield Surveillance System (BSS). It facilitated the integration of numerous sensors and establish 60 surveillance centers for the field formations. Sensor data and information are integrated into an all-encompassing system that facilitates prompt decision-making. Extensive validation of BSS was conducted across plains, deserts, and mountains between August and October of 2022. It satisfied Indian Army's expectations with over 95% success rate. The Army field formations along the northern and western borders would receive their deliveries by December 2025, with BEL having been granted the contract. The original development cost was estimated to be {{INRConvert|2700|c|lk=on}} which was later revised to {{INRConvert|2402|c|lk=on}}. It was developed under the Buy (Indian) category.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=Army working on creating battlefield surveillance system for composite operational picture |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/india/army-working-on-creating-battlefield-surveillance-system-for-composite-operational-picture-1216347.html |access-date=2025-07-08 |website=Deccan Herald |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2023-05-09 |title=Project Sanjay: ‘BEL meets Army’s aspirations in entirety’ |url=https://www.defencewatch.in/defence-news/project-sanjay-bel-meets-armys-aspirations-in-entirety |access-date=2025-07-09 |website=Defence Watch |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Peri |first=Dinakar |date=2023-05-05 |title=Army commanders to soon get real-time, comprehensive operational picture through automation initiatives |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/army-commanders-to-soon-get-real-time-comprehensive-operational-picture-through-automation-initiatives/article66817471.ece |access-date=2025-07-09 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

[[Minister of Defence (India)|Minister of Defence]] [[Rajnath Singh]] officially launched it for [[intelligence]], [[surveillance]], and [[reconnaissance]] on 24 January 2025. In order to ensure accuracy, avoid redundancy, and create an integrated surveillance picture for tactical battle, this automated system with dedicated intra-communication aggregates and processes inputs from satellites, helicopters, [[UAVs]], air defense radars, [[Battlefield surveillance radar|battlefield surveillance radars]], [[Counter-battery radar|counter-battery radars]], long-range reconnaissance and observation systems, [[Thermal imager|thermal imagers]], [[Reconnaissance vehicle|reconnaissance vehicles]], and [[patrolling]]. It also looks at depth areas that are 200 kilometers beyond the boundaries. From March to October 2025, it will be incorporated into [[Brigade|brigades]], [[Division (military)|divisions]], and [[corps]]. The system includes a communication control unit, a generator, a monitoring center, and multiple monitoring communication terminals. It is highly mobile. It shows the military's strategic locations in a consolidated web application format. BSS uses [[AI]] [[analytics]] to locate and evaluate the target and sends audio, video, content, and photos over fiber[[Fiber-optic communication|fiber-optics]] andas well as fast and secure [[VHF]], [[High frequency|HF]], and [[UHF]] hybrid networks.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":5" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=24 January 2025 |title=Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh flags-off ‘SANJAY - The Battlefield Surveillance System’ from New Delhi |url=https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=2095712 |access-date=9 July 2025 |work=[[Press Information Bureau]] |agency=Ministry of Defence, Government of India}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Mohan |first=Vijay |date=24 January 2025 |title=Army’s new Battlefield Surveillance System to boost decision-making capability by integrating information from all sources |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/india/armys-new-battlefield-surveillance-system-to-boost-decision-making-capability-by-integrating-information-from-all-sources/ |access-date=2025-07-09 |website=The Tribune |language=en}}</ref>

=== Situational Reporting Over Enterprise-Class GIS platform (e-Sitrep) ===

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=== Situational Awareness Module for the Army (SAMA) ===

SAMA is a comprehensive combat information decision support system, re-designed as Army Information and Decision Support System, which is being developed by the Indian Army in collaboration with the [[Bhaskaracharya Institute For Space Applications and Geo-Informatics]] and the [[Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology]], to provide commanders a comprehensive picture of the battlefield by combining inputs from all operational and managerial information systems such as ACCCS, BSS, e-Sitrep, and MISO. It was put into use in May 2023 for corps-level field validation. The Army's [[Northern Command (India)|Northern Command]] was the first to operationalize SAMA in June 2023.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":4" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-12-07 |title=Indian Army and MeitY unite forces for technological defence overhaul |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/indian-army-and-meity-unite-forces-for-technological-defence-overhaul/articleshow/105801908.cms?from=mdr |access-date=2025-07-08 |work=The Economic Times |issn=0013-0389}}</ref>

=== Project Anumaan ===

The Indian Army signed a [[memorandum of understanding]] on 24 November 2022, to assist [[National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting]] in gathering observations along the northern borders and will obtain higher-resolution weather predictions along the Chinese frontiers.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-05-13 |title=Indian Army troops deployed near China border to get their own weather app |url=https://www.financialexpress.com/business/defence/indian-army-troops-deployed-near-china-border-to-get-their-own-weather-app/3086605/ |access-date=2025-07-09 |website=The Financial Express |language=en}}</ref> An application was under development for artillery operations.<ref name=":1" /> For deployments along the high altitudes areas, it will provide precise weather forecasts.<ref name=":3" /> It will help in surveillance and intelligence gathering. The Indian Army is planning to release the Anuman app on 19 May 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Singh |first=Mayank |date=2023-05-14 |title=Indian Army gets ‘Anuman’ for accurate artillery firing |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/thesundaystandard/2023/May/13/indian-army-gets-anuman-for-accurate-artillery-firing-2574854.html |access-date=2025-07-09 |website=The New Indian Express |language=en}}</ref>

An application was under development for artillery operations.<ref name=":1" /> For deployments along the high altitudes areas, it will provide precise weather forecasts.<ref name=":3" /> It will help in surveillance and intelligence gathering. The Indian Army is planning to release the Anuman app on 19 May 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Singh |first=Mayank |date=2023-05-14 |title=Indian Army gets ‘Anuman’ for accurate artillery firing |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/thesundaystandard/2023/May/13/indian-army-gets-anuman-for-accurate-artillery-firing-2574854.html |access-date=2025-07-09 |website=The New Indian Express |language=en}}</ref>

== See also ==