The Indian Navy is moving to enhance the communication capabilities of several warships already in service through the installation of Bharat Electronics Limited’s (BEL) Advanced Composite Communication System (ACCS). The programme covers 10 naval platforms and forms part of the service’s wider effort to modernise the electronic and digital infrastructure of its fleet.
The upgrade is aimed at replacing older communication arrangements with a more integrated architecture capable of handling multiple forms of naval communications. As warships increasingly depend on real-time information sharing, reliable connectivity has become an important part of maintaining operational effectiveness at sea.
The vessels selected for the retrofit include INS Talwar, INS Tabar, INS Trishul, INS Teg and INS Tarkash of the Talwar class. The programme also includes INS Ranvir, along with Kora-class corvettes INS Kora, INS Kirch and INS Khanjar, and the Saryu-class patrol vessel INS Sumitra.
A key element of the programme is the transition from earlier Composite Communication System Mk-II and Mk-III configurations to a newer generation of IP-based communication technology. This is expected to provide the selected ships with a more unified communications environment and improve the movement of voice and data across different networks.
For a modern naval force, communication systems perform a role that extends well beyond conventional voice communication. Ships need to remain connected with other vessels, aircraft and shore-based command elements while conducting surveillance, patrols, exercises and combat operations. The ability to exchange information quickly can therefore have a direct impact on coordination and situational awareness.
BEL’s communication technology is designed to bring multiple communication requirements together within a common system. Its composite communication architecture can support different naval communication bands as well as satellite-based links, providing greater flexibility for platforms operating in different maritime environments.
The modernisation is also relevant to operations in electronically contested conditions. Naval communication networks can face interference, congestion and deliberate attempts to disrupt connectivity. Strengthening the resilience of communications can help ships maintain links with operational networks when electromagnetic conditions become challenging.
Another important benefit of upgrading existing vessels is greater technological commonality across the fleet. Newer Indian warships are being equipped with increasingly sophisticated digital systems, while older platforms can otherwise operate with different generations of equipment. Retrofitting established ships with newer communication technology can help reduce this divide.
The programme also reflects the growing importance of network-centric operations in maritime warfare. Instead of operating as isolated platforms, modern warships are increasingly expected to function as connected elements within a wider operational network. Secure and dependable communications provide the foundation for this approach.
The decision to modernise ships already in service also offers the Navy a way to improve capability without waiting exclusively for new warships to enter the fleet. Upgrading the electronic architecture of existing platforms can extend their usefulness while allowing them to remain integrated with newer naval assets.
BEL has been developing and supplying communication and electronic systems for India’s defence forces, supporting the country’s broader effort to strengthen indigenous defence electronics. The company’s composite communication systems are intended to provide integrated communication facilities onboard naval platforms.
With 10 warships set to receive the new communication capability, the initiative represents another step in the Indian Navy’s continuing digital transformation. The focus is not simply on replacing older equipment, but on creating a more connected fleet capable of sharing information securely and efficiently across the maritime battlespace.
The retrofit programme therefore adds another layer to India’s ongoing naval modernisation, particularly as secure communications, interoperability and information superiority become increasingly important to maritime operations.
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