Shakti ACCCS and Shakti Electronic Warfare System

Analysis of Shakti ACCCS and Shakti Electronic Warfare System: Current Capabilities and Forecast to 2030

Summary

The Artillery Combat Command and Control System (ACCCS), known as Shakti, and the Shakti Electronic Warfare (EW) System are pivotal components of India’s defense modernization, enhancing the Indian Army’s artillery operations and the Indian Navy’s electronic warfare capabilities, respectively. This report provides a detailed examination of both systems, including their operational mechanisms, cybersecurity measures, development history, and integration with India’s broader defense ecosystem. It compares Shakti ACCCS with the Akashteer air defense system, assesses their current status, and forecasts their evolution by 2030. The analysis draws on open-source data, including web reports and posts on X, to offer a comprehensive perspective on these indigenous systems.

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1. Shakti Artillery Combat Command and Control System (ACCCS)

1.1 Overview

Shakti ACCCS is a fully digitized, networked system designed to automate and integrate artillery operations within the Indian Army’s Tactical Command, Control, Communications, and Intelligence (Tac C3I) framework. It enhances situational awareness, decision-making, and firepower delivery across artillery units, from corps-level fire direction centers to individual gun batteries.

1.2 Operational Mechanism

Shakti operates as a hierarchical command and control system, leveraging a secure, military-grade communication network to coordinate artillery operations. Its key components include:

• Enhanced Tactical Computer (ETC): Processes data for fire planning and resource allocation at higher echelons.
• Handheld Computer: Enables field commanders to input real-time data and receive fire orders.
• Gun Display Unit (GDU): Interfaces with individual guns for precise targeting and fire execution.
• Software Suite: Incorporates Geographic Information System (GIS) and Global Positioning System (GPS) for terrain analysis and target localization.

Workflow:

1. Data Acquisition: Inputs from forward observers, weapon-locating radars (e.g., Swati WLR), and UAVs are fed into the system via handheld computers or tactical radios.
2. Processing: ETC computes trajectories, generates fire plans, and optimizes resource allocation using AI-driven algorithms.
3. Command Dissemination: Fire orders are transmitted securely to battery command posts and GDUs, ensuring rapid execution.
4. Feedback Loop: Real-time feedback on fire accuracy and battlefield effects is relayed back to the fire direction center for adjustments.

Key Functions:

• Technical Fire Control: Calculates precise trajectories for accurate fire delivery.
• Tactical Fire Control: Manages ammunition and resource allocation.
• Fire Planning: Automates task tables and gun programs.
• Deployment Optimization: Suggests optimal gun and observation post locations.
• Logistics Management: Ensures timely ammunition supply and logistical support.

1.3 Cybersecurity Measures

Shakti ACCCS operates in a contested battlefield environment, necessitating robust cybersecurity to protect against hacking and electronic warfare. Its security features include:

• Encrypted Communications: Uses end-to-end encryption and frequency-hopping spread spectrum (FHSS) in tactical radios to prevent interception and jamming.
• Air-Gapped Systems: Critical components are physically isolated from external networks, reducing remote hacking risks.
• Access Controls: Implements multi-factor authentication (MFA) and role-based access to restrict system use to authorized personnel.
• Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS): Monitors network traffic for anomalies, likely developed by DRDO’s Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (CAIR).
• Hardware Hardening: BEL-manufactured components feature tamper-resistant designs to prevent physical compromise.
• Redundancy: Multiple communication pathways (e.g., tactical radios, ASCON, fiber-optics) ensure operational continuity if one channel is disrupted.
• Regular Updates: Software patches and firmware upgrades address emerging threats, managed by BEL and DRDO.

These measures align with India’s broader cybersecurity framework, including the Secure Army Mobile Bharat Version (SAMBHAV) handsets for secure communications.

1.4 Development and Journey

• Conceptualization (Post-1999 Kargil War): The Kargil War highlighted artillery’s critical role and the need for automation. Shakti was initiated in the early 2000s under the Indian Army’s Directorate General of Information Systems (DGIS).
• Development: Jointly developed by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), DRDO (CAIR and Armament Research and Development Establishment), and PMO ACCCS. BEL handled hardware, while CAIR developed the software.
• Dedication: Formally dedicated on June 12, 2009, by Lt Gen P.C. Katoch (DGIS) and BEL Chairman Ashwani Kumar Datt to Army Chief Gen Deepak Kapoor.
• Deployment (2009–2013): Progressively inducted across artillery units, replacing manual processes.
• Upgrades (2013–2020): Integrated with modern artillery systems like Dhanush, M777 Ultra-Light Howitzers, and K9 Vajra-T. IIT Madras proposed a next-generation fire control network using the indigenous Shakti Processor.
• Recent Milestones: Demonstrated to Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan on October 24, 2024, showcasing its role in next-generation warfare.

1.5 Current Status (2025)

• Operational Maturity: Fully operational across artillery units, supporting network-centric warfare within the Tac C3I grid.
• Integration: Compatible with Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS), Pinaka MBRL, and surveillance systems like Swati WLR and UAVs.
• Capabilities: Enables rapid, precise fire delivery, with automation reducing response times from minutes to seconds.
• Challenges: Ammunition shortages and the need for continuous hardware/software upgrades to counter evolving threats.

1.6 Cost

Exact costs are classified, but Shakti’s development and deployment likely involve hundreds of crores, given its complexity and scale. For context, the ATAGS contract (307 units) is worth ₹7,000 crore, and the Shakti EW System (11 units) costs ₹2,269.54 crore.

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2. Shakti Electronic Warfare (EW) System

2.1 Overview

The Shakti EW System is an indigenously developed electronic warfare suite designed for the Indian Navy’s capital warships. It enhances maritime security by intercepting, detecting, classifying, identifying, and jamming conventional and modern radar systems, countering threats like anti-ship missiles (e.g., Chinese CM-400AKG, C-802/602, YJ-12).

2.2 Operational Mechanism

The Shakti EW System is a sophisticated suite integrating multiple subsystems to provide comprehensive electronic warfare capabilities:

• Interception and Detection: Captures radar signals across a wide frequency spectrum, identifying hostile emitters in real-time.
• Classification and Identification: Analyzes signal characteristics to distinguish between friendly, neutral, and hostile radars, using a threat library developed by DRDO.
• Jamming: Deploys active jamming (e.g., noise jamming, deception jamming) to disrupt enemy radar and missile guidance systems.
• Electronic Countermeasures (ECM): Includes decoys and chaff/flare dispensers to mislead incoming missiles.
• Integration: Interfaces with the warship’s combat management system (CMS) for coordinated threat response.

Key Components:

• Antenna Arrays: Wideband receivers for signal interception.
• Signal Processing Units: AI-driven processors for real-time analysis, likely leveraging CAIR’s expertise.
• Jamming Transmitters: High-power jammers to disrupt enemy radar and communications.
• Control Console: Allows operators to manage EW operations and integrate with other ship systems.

Operational Workflow:

1. Signal Detection: Antennas detect radar emissions from enemy platforms (e.g., ships, aircraft, missiles).
2. Analysis: Signal processors classify and prioritize threats, updating the threat library.
3. Response: Jamming or countermeasures are deployed automatically or manually, depending on the threat level.
4. Feedback: Real-time data is shared with the CMS, enabling coordinated defense with weapons like BrahMos or Barak-8 missiles.

2.3 Cybersecurity Measures

The Shakti EW System operates in a maritime environment vulnerable to cyber and electronic attacks. Its cybersecurity features include:

• Encrypted Data Links: Secure communication between EW components and the warship’s CMS.
• Isolated Systems: Critical EW subsystems are air-gapped to prevent remote hacking.
• AI-Based Threat Detection: Monitors for anomalous signals or cyber intrusions, leveraging DRDO’s AI expertise.
• Tamper-Resistant Hardware: BEL-manufactured components resist physical tampering.
• Redundant Systems: Backup processors and communication links ensure functionality during cyberattacks.
• Regular Updates: Firmware and software patches address evolving cyber threats, managed by DRDO and BEL.

These measures align with the Indian Navy’s focus on cybersecurity and cyber warfare, as outlined in the Indian Naval Indigenisation Plan (INIP) 2015–2030.

2.4 Development and Journey

• Conceptualization: Initiated by DRDO’s Defence Electronics Research Laboratory (DLRL), Hyderabad, to counter advanced anti-ship missiles and radar threats in the Indo-Pacific.
• Development: Designed and developed by DLRL, with BEL as the manufacturing partner. The system leverages indigenous technologies under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
• Handover: Formally handed over to the Indian Navy on November 18, 2021, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
• Contract: On February 13, 2024, the Ministry of Defence signed a ₹2,269.54 crore contract with BEL, Hyderabad, for 11 Shakti EW Systems under the Buy (Indian-IDDM) category.
• Deployment: Being installed on frontline warships, including Visakhapatnam-class destroyers and Talwar-class frigates, enhancing their survivability against missile threats.

2.5 Current Status (2025)

• Operational Deployment: Partially inducted, with 11 systems contracted for deployment on capital warships by 2027.
• Capabilities: Effective against modern anti-ship missiles, with proven jamming capabilities against Chinese-made missiles like CM-400AKG.
• Integration: Works synergistically with BrahMos missiles and Barak-8 air defense systems, enhancing warship survivability.
• Challenges: Scaling production to equip a 200-ship fleet, as envisioned in the Maritime Capability Perspective Plan (MCPP) 2022–2037.

2.6 Cost

The contract for 11 Shakti EW Systems is valued at ₹2,269.54 crore, or approximately ₹206 crore per unit, reflecting the high cost of advanced EW technology.

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3. Comparison with Akashteer Air Defense System

Akashteer is an indigenous Air Defence Control and Reporting System (ADCRS) developed by BEL for the Indian Army’s Corps of Army Air Defence. It automates air defense operations, integrating sensors and weapons to counter aerial threats. Below is a detailed comparison with Shakti ACCCS:

Parameter	Shakti ACCCS	Akashteer
Purpose	Automates artillery operations (fire control, planning, logistics).	Automates air defense operations (threat detection, tracking, engagement).
Domain	Ground-based artillery firepower delivery.	Air defense against aerial threats (aircraft, drones, missiles).
Operational Scope	Corps, regiments, batteries, individual guns.	Air Defence Control Centres, sensor/weapon nodes.
Key Components	ETC, Handheld Computer, GDU, GIS/GPS software.	AD C&R nodes, 3D Tactical Radars, Low-Level Lightweight Radars, Akash Weapon System.
Command Hierarchy	Corps FDC → Regimental Command Post → Battery Command Post → Guns.	AD Control Centre → AD C&R nodes → Sensor/Weapon units.
Integration	Artillery systems (ATAGS, M777, K9 Vajra), surveillance (Swati WLR, UAVs).	Radars (Ashwini, Arudhra), missiles (Akash, QRSAM), IAF’s IACCS.
Communication	Tactical radios, ASCON, fiber-optics; EW-resistant.	Secure data links, software-defined radios; interoperable with IACCS.
Cybersecurity	Encrypted channels, air-gapped systems, MFA, IDS, tamper-resistant hardware.	Encrypted links, redundant communications, scalable software.
Automation	Fire planning, trajectory calculations, logistics.	Threat prioritization, target allocation, engagement decisions.
Development	BEL, DRDO (CAIR, ARDE), PMO ACCCS; dedicated 2009.	BEL, DRDO; induction began 2024.
Status (2025)	Fully operational, integrated with modern artillery.	107 of 455 units delivered; full deployment by 2027.
Cost	Estimated hundreds of crores (exact figures classified).	₹1,982 crore for initial contract (455 units planned).
Future Outlook	AI integration, smart ammo, export potential.	Counter-drone, hypersonic missile defense, IAF integration.

Similarities:

• Both are network-centric, leveraging the Tac C3I framework for real-time coordination.
• Developed by BEL and DRDO, emphasizing Atmanirbhar Bharat.
• Feature secure, encrypted communications and automation to enhance response times.
• Designed for contested environments, with protections against EW and cyber threats.

Differences:

• Domain: Shakti focuses on ground-based artillery, while Akashteer targets aerial threats.
• Maturity: Shakti is mature (since 2009), while Akashteer is in phased induction (2024–2027).
• Integration Complexity: Akashteer requires interoperability with IAF’s Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS), adding complexity.
• Threat Environment: Shakti counters ground-based threats, while Akashteer addresses fast-moving aerial threats, necessitating faster automation.

Synergies:

• In joint operations, Shakti’s artillery can neutralize ground-based air defense systems, supporting Akashteer’s air defense operations. Conversely, Akashteer protects artillery units from aerial attacks, creating a layered defense.

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4. Current Status of Shakti Systems and Akashteer (2025)

4.1 Shakti ACCCS

• Deployment: Fully operational across artillery units, integrated with modern systems like ATAGS (307 units contracted in March 2025, ₹7,000 crore) and K9 Vajra-T.
• Capabilities: Automates fire control, planning, and logistics, enabling precise, rapid fire delivery in network-centric warfare.
• Demonstrations: Showcased to CDS General Anil Chauhan on October 24, 2024, highlighting its role in next-generation warfare.
• Challenges: Addressing ammunition shortages and sustaining upgrades in contested environments.

4.2 Shakti EW System

• Deployment: Partially inducted, with 11 systems contracted for frontline warships (e.g., Visakhapatnam-class destroyers). Full deployment expected by 2027.
• Capabilities: Jams advanced anti-ship missiles and radars, enhancing warship survivability in contested waters.
• Integration: Synergizes with BrahMos and Barak-8 systems, supporting the Navy’s MCPP 2022–2037 for a 200-ship fleet.
• Challenges: Scaling production to equip a growing naval fleet and countering advanced missile threats (e.g., hypersonic missiles).

4.3 Akashteer

• Deployment: 107 of 455 units delivered as of November 2024, with 105 more by March 2025 and full deployment by April 2027.
• Capabilities: Automates air defense, integrating radars (e.g., Ashwini, Arudhra) and missiles (e.g., Akash, QRSAM). Demonstrated in validation trials simulating future wars.
• Integration: Partially integrated with IAF’s IACCS, with one site complete as of January 2025.
• Challenges: Achieving full IAF interoperability and countering advanced threats like hypersonic missiles.

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5. Forecast to 2030

5.1 Shakti ACCCS

By 2030, Shakti ACCCS is expected to evolve significantly, driven by India’s Field Artillery Rationalisation Plan (FARP) and advancements in deep-tech:

• Integration with New Systems:
• Full integration with 307 ATAGS units, 1,200 Towed Gun Systems (TGS), and wheeled guns (e.g., CAESAR, Tata 155 mm MGS).
• Support for smart ammunition, including NavIC/GPS-guided 155 mm shells (CEP 10 meters) and ramjet-propelled shells (>60 km range), enhancing precision and reach.
• AI and Quantum Upgrades:
• Adoption of the Shakti Processor-based fire control network (IIT Madras), replacing bulky hardware with lightweight tablets for enhanced portability.
• AI-driven decision support for predictive targeting and resource optimization, leveraging DRDO’s AI advancements.
• Quantum sensors for improved navigation and targeting in GPS-denied environments.
• Export Potential:
• Shakti-integrated systems like ATAGS may be exported to countries like the Philippines, following Kalyani Strategic Systems’ showcase at DEFEA 2025.
• Cybersecurity Enhancements:
• Integration of quantum cryptography for unbreakable encryption, aligning with India’s quantum technology roadmap.
• AI-based cyber threat detection to counter sophisticated attacks in networked warfare.
• Operational Impact:
• Support for ~2,800–3,000 155 mm/52-calibre guns by 2027 under FARP, enhancing deterrence along borders with China and Pakistan.
• Enhanced joint operations with other Tac C3I systems (e.g., Battlefield Management System, CIDSS), enabling multi-domain warfare.

Challenges:

• Addressing ammunition shortages through public-private partnerships.
• Sustaining upgrades amidst budget constraints (defense budget: ₹6.81 lakh crore in 2025–26).

5.2 Shakti EW System

By 2030, the Shakti EW System will likely be a cornerstone of the Indian Navy’s electronic warfare capabilities:

• Expanded Deployment:
• Equipped on a 200-ship fleet, including Arihant-class submarines, INS Vikrant, and new destroyers/frigates, per the MCPP 2022–2037.
• Integration with Naval Anti-Ship Missile – Short Range (NASM-SR) and MH-60R Seahawk helicopters for enhanced anti-submarine warfare.
• Technological Advancements:
• AI-driven signal processing for faster threat identification and adaptive jamming, leveraging DRDO’s AI expertise.
• Directed energy weapons (DEWs) as complementary countermeasures, countering hypersonic missiles and drones.
• Quantum radar detection to counter stealth platforms, aligning with India’s quantum technology investments.
• Cybersecurity:
• Quantum key distribution (QKD) for secure communications, protecting against cyber threats in contested waters.
• Autonomous EW response systems to counter rapid, high-volume missile attacks.
• Operational Impact:
• Enhanced survivability against advanced threats (e.g., Chinese hypersonic anti-ship ballistic missiles), strengthening India’s dominance in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
• Support for unmanned surface and underwater vessels, reflecting the Navy’s focus on unmanned warfare.
• Export Potential:
• Potential inclusion in naval export packages, alongside BrahMos missiles, to friendly nations in the Indo-Pacific.

Challenges:

• Scaling production to meet MCPP targets amidst budget constraints.
• Countering advanced hypersonic and stealth threats, requiring continuous R&D.

5.3 Akashteer

By 2030, Akashteer is expected to be fully operational, transforming India’s air defense:

• Full Deployment:
• Completion of 455 units by April 2027, covering all Army formations.
• Full integration with IAF’s IACCS, enabling joint air defense under the Joint Air Defence Centre (JADC).
• Advanced Capabilities:
• Counter-drone systems to address proliferating UAV threats, leveraging DRDO’s counter-drone technology.
• Integration with Project Kusha (LR-SAM, 150–350 km range) and MRSAM (70 km range) for layered defense against hypersonic missiles.
• AI-based threat prioritization and autonomous engagement, reducing response times.
• Cybersecurity:
• Quantum cryptography and AI-driven intrusion detection to protect networked sensors and weapons.
• Redundant, scalable networks to ensure resilience in contested environments.
• Operational Impact:
• Comprehensive air defense coverage along borders, countering threats from Pakistan and China.
• Enhanced protection against advanced aerial threats, including stealth aircraft and hypersonic missiles.
• Export Potential:
• Possible export to regional allies, aligning with India’s defense export goals (e.g., BrahMos to Philippines).

Challenges:

• Achieving seamless IAF-Army interoperability.
• Countering advanced threats like hypersonic missiles, requiring continuous upgrades.

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6. Strategic Implications and Recommendations

• Network-Centric Warfare: Both Shakti systems and Akashteer are integral to India’s shift toward network-centric warfare, enabling multi-domain operations. Their integration with Tac C3I and IACCS will enhance jointness across services.
• Self-Reliance: Indigenous development by BEL and DRDO supports Atmanirbhar Bharat, reducing reliance on foreign technology and mitigating supply chain risks.
• Regional Deterrence: Enhanced artillery and naval EW capabilities, coupled with robust air defense, strengthen India’s deterrence against China and Pakistan, particularly in contested regions like the LAC and IOR.
• Recommendations:
• Increase R&D funding for AI, quantum technologies, and hypersonic countermeasures (DRDO budget: ₹26,816.82 crore in 2025–26).
• Address ammunition shortages through public-private partnerships to maximize Shakti ACCCS’s effectiveness.
• Accelerate Akashteer’s IAF integration to create a unified air defense architecture.
• Explore export markets for Shakti-integrated systems and Akashteer to boost defense revenues and regional influence.

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7. Conclusion

The Shakti ACCCS and Shakti EW System, alongside Akashteer, represent India’s commitment to modernizing its defense capabilities through indigenous innovation. Shakti ACCCS automates artillery operations, enhancing firepower delivery, while the Shakti EW System strengthens naval survivability against missile threats. Akashteer complements these systems by providing robust air defense. By 2030, advancements in AI, quantum technology, and smart munitions will transform these systems, positioning India as a dominant military power in the Indo-Pacific. Continued investment in R&D, cybersecurity, and jointness will be critical to realizing their full potential.

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