DRDO partners with private firms to develop SATCOM datalink for Tejas Mk2 and AMCA, targeting localisation of critical defence tech.
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has launched a project in partnership with private Indian companies to co-develop a Satellite Communication (SATCOM)-based datalink waveform for the Tejas Mk2 and Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA). The programme is part of India’s broader strategy to localise critical technologies for its defence aviation platforms.
The project aims to deliver a secure, full-duplex data transfer between aircraft, ground stations, and other platforms, thus enabling beyond-line-of-sight (BLOS) communication. The system is expected to interface with Indian military satellites and enable real-time data transfer for mission coordination, sensor fusion, and electronic warfare.
The Defence Electronics Application Laboratory (DEAL), a DRDO lab based in Dehradun, is leading technical development. An Expression of Interest (EoI) has been issued to Indian firms specialising in software-defined radios (SDRs), waveform design, and digital communications.
While companies have not yet been finalised, firms previously involved in related projects, such as Tata Advanced Systems, L&T, and Dynamatic Technologies—are potential bidders.
DRDO will use the Combined Quality Cum Cost Based System (CQCCBS) to evaluate bids, balancing cost and technical capability. Selected firms will be required to prototype, validate, and deliver datalink systems for integration with Tejas Mk2 and AMCA avionics.
The system must meet military-grade requirements for anti-jamming, interoperability, and environmental resilience. Timelines have not been disclosed, but integration is expected to align with planned induction schedules for the two platforms—late 2020s for Tejas Mk2 and early 2030s for AMCA.
The project ailigns with DRDO’s broader policy shift toward private-sector-led R&D partnerships. Fifteen DRDO Industry-Academia Centres of Excellence (DIA-CoEs) have been established to support such collaborations. The datalink may later be extended to other defence aviation platforms, though this has not been confirmed.
