Aero India 2023: IAF displays home-grown Vayulink platform with multiple uses

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has come out with an innovative solution that would help pilots deal with bad weather and also provide them jammer-proof uninterrupted communication with the base station.

Known as Vayulink, the data link communication uses the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) that is also known as NAVIC, to send radio communication to the base station when the signals are low, an IAF officer involved in the project said.

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“The important aspect of the technological solution is that it prevents fratricide or friendly fire,” he added.

The IAF displayed the Vayulink system to provide information about its platform at the India Pavilion in the ongoing Aero India 2023 in Bengaluru.

“Vayulink is an ad-hoc data link communication system, which when installed in an aircraft, gives the position of other aircraft close by, encrypted traffic data over a secured channel,” Wing Commander Vishal Mishra told PTI.

The India Pavilion at #AeroIndia2023 has two innovations by #IAF personnel. Vayulink is a complete ecosystem for providing varied data to combat elements & can be used Civil, Military & Para Military forces alike. The chip level integration of this equipment is done within India. pic.twitter.com/EGGRofRKci

— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) February 14, 2023

“When the planes are flying close to any friendly forces on the ground during a combat situation, the aircraft display gives the position of such forces on the ground including tanks and troops beneath,” the IAF officer said.

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“The advantage of the system is when you are going into combat, it prevents fratricide. It means, you are able to know where our ground forces are present,” he claimed.

Multiple uses

The Vayulink system also prevents aircraft collision, provides better combat teaming, and helps plan on a real-time basis where multiple teams can get together and go towards the target coming from different areas, Wing Commander Mishra pointed out.

The system can also give the pilots data on the weather, he added. “When you are flying above the hills where there is no radio communication, the system can give you radio communication also,” Wing Commander Mishra said.

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According to him, Vayulink is helpful for the Air Force, Army and Navy, while it can be given to government services as well since the technology has been made by the Indian Air Force.

He claimed Vayulink had been developed by the IAF only, and it was a very secure system.

(With agency inputs)