The Defence Research and Development Organisation is developing an advanced system to counter cognitive radio networks that employ artificial intelligence to evade detection and jamming.

With modern military communication systems becoming increasingly resilient to electronic countermeasures, this initiative marks a significant step in electronic warfare capabilities.

The system has been named the Smart Communication Jammer System (SCJS). It will be a large vehicle-mounted platform capable of detecting, analysing, classifying, direction-finding, monitoring and jamming tactical communication mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs).

These networks, known as MANETs, are highly adaptive wireless systems that can sense their environment and alter their settings to use the radio spectrum more efficiently.

Cognitive radios and MANETs can continuously scan for unused or underutilised frequency channels and rapidly switch frequencies. This makes them difficult to monitor or intercept using conventional jamming systems.

Unlike conventional radios that operate on pre-set channels, cognitive radios use artificial intelligence and machine learning to analyse their operating environment and dynamically switch between spectrum channels, potentially within microseconds, to evade interference.

The Defence Electronics Research Laboratory, a DRDO establishment, is the nodal agency for executing the project. It is seeking Indian industry partners for the design and development of the Smart Communication Jammer System.

According to DRDO’s requirements, the system should be capable of monitoring and jamming radios operating in the 30 MHz to 6,000 MHz frequency range. It should provide 360-degree detection coverage with a range of 20 km. It must also be capable of countering radios that change frequencies at rates of up to 2,000 hops per second.

The wide frequency range covers several tactical communication bands used by modern military systems. These include unmanned aerial vehicles, loitering munitions and software-defined radios. 

Traditional static or brute-force jammers, which use high-power radio-frequency signals across fixed bands, are less effective against such rapidly changing systems. An officer explained that this makes conventional jamming inadequate against cognitive radios.

Army officers noted that cognitive radio networks improve the reliability of military communications and the availability of information.

However, they also make it more difficult to monitor an adversary’s activity. Such networks have significant civilian applications as well. They can reduce spectrum congestion and improve the efficiency of wireless communications, offering benefits beyond the battlefield.

The Smart Communication Jammer System represents a critical advancement in India’s electronic warfare capabilities.

By targeting adaptive and AI-driven communication systems, it aims to ensure that the armed forces retain the ability to disrupt hostile networks while safeguarding their own communications.

The project also reflects DRDO’s emphasis on indigenous development, with industry participation expected to accelerate the program’s progress.

Agencies