The Indian Navy is moving ahead with a major communication modernisation programme that will see 10 warships retrofitted with Bharat Electronics Limited’s (BEL) Advanced Composite Communication System (ACCS). The initiative is aimed at strengthening the digital connectivity of frontline and legacy platforms and improving their ability to operate as part of an integrated network-centric force.
The programme involves replacing older CCS Mk-II and CCS Mk-III communication systems with a modern, fourth-generation, IP-based architecture. The upgrade is expected to provide the selected warships with more integrated communication capabilities and enable them to exchange operational information more efficiently with other naval assets.
The vessels covered under the programme include the Talwar-class frigates INS Talwar, INS Tabar, INS Trishul, INS Teg and INS Tarkash. The upgrade will also cover the Rajput-class destroyer INS Ranvir, Kora-class corvettes INS Kora, INS Kirch and INS Khanjar, and the Saryu-class patrol vessel INS Sumitra.
BEL’s ACCS is designed to bring different communication channels together through a unified digital network. The system can integrate a broad range of naval communication frequencies, including Very Low Frequency, Medium Frequency, High Frequency, Very High Frequency, Ultra High Frequency and satellite communications.
For warships operating across large maritime areas, such integration is increasingly important. Modern naval missions depend not only on weapons and sensors but also on the ability to securely exchange information between ships, aircraft, command centres and other operational units.
The upgraded system is expected to provide higher bandwidth and lower communication latency, supporting faster transfer of operational data. This can strengthen coordination between vessels and contribute to improved situational awareness during complex maritime missions.
Another important aspect of the ACCS is its focus on communications resilience in electronically contested environments. Enhanced anti-jamming capabilities can help naval platforms maintain secure communications when operating in areas where electromagnetic interference or deliberate disruption of communication networks may pose a threat.
The system has already been deployed on newer Indian Navy platforms, including Kolkata-class guided-missile destroyers and Kamorta-class anti-submarine warfare corvettes. Extending the technology to additional ships will help reduce differences between older and newer communication architectures across the fleet.
The retrofitting programme is significant because it focuses on upgrading existing warships rather than relying exclusively on new platforms. This approach allows the Navy to improve the operational relevance of ships already in service while new-generation warships continue to enter the fleet.
The communication upgrade also supports the Navy’s broader shift towards network-centric warfare, where information from multiple sensors and platforms can be shared rapidly to build a common operational picture. Improved connectivity can help ships coordinate surveillance, tracking and tactical responses more effectively.
The initiative comes as the Indian Navy continues to place greater emphasis on indigenous technologies and secure maritime communication networks. Recent naval programmes have increasingly focused on reducing dependence on imported systems while strengthening the ability of Indian platforms to operate within integrated digital battle networks.
By bringing 10 additional warships onto the ACCS architecture, the Navy is effectively extending modern communication capabilities across a wider portion of its fleet. The move is expected to improve interoperability, strengthen secure information exchange and help keep older and mid-generation warships relevant in an increasingly data-driven maritime battlespace.