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EW Conference India 2010 -- Many Firsts The First International Conference on Electronic Warfare in India – EWCI 2010 took place at the National Science Seminar complex (NSSC), Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore from 9-12 Feb 2010. Organized by Dr. UK Revankar, Director of the Defence Avionics Research Establishment (DARE) with his staff, a galaxy of prestigious international EW experts and supported by top-tier Indian government and military personnel, EWCI 2010 was outstandingly successful. It undoubtedly raises the bar for future EW events globally. Following an initial meeting at the AOC/Shephard EW 2010 London EW Conference last May between Dr. Revankar, Alex Giles (CEO of the Shephard Group), the President of the UK Chapter and AOC Executive Director, Mr. Don Richetti, this extraordinary event was conceived and executed in just nine months. EWCI 2010 was the occasion of many firsts.THE CONFERENCE  EWCI 2010 was organized by Defence Avionics Research Establishment (DARE), Bangalore and Defence Electronics Research Establishment (DLRL), Hyderabad, under the aegis of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), along with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and Joint Electronic Warfare Board (JEWB) of Integrated Defence Staff (IDS). The Shephard Group, Association of Old Crows Board and UK Chapter and JED provided international support at the Conference alongside 20 international exhibitors from 7 countries and 23 Indian exhibitors, filling 68 stalls many of which were in a luxurious, air-conditioned marquee erected specially. Some 200 delegates attended a pre-conference seminar day in three large theatres in the conference complex. Speakers from Elettronica (Italy), Elisra (Israel), SELEX Galileo (UK) and EADS (Germany) kept the highly motivated, enthusiastic and technically advanced seminar crowd entertained all day, and the delegates kept the speakers on their toes with often challenging questions. PROGRAM SOPHISTICATION Making full use of the 400-seat JN TATA Auditorium and the three smaller theaters, the conference ran four technical strands simultaneously after the interesting and moving opening ceremony. Running four simultaneous technical strands is no mean feat. That these all went off without hitch or delay is a great tribute to all the session chairpersons and the staff who worked tirelessly. Ninety-nine separate papers were presented, with more than 40 from outside India. Teams of AV personnel recorded all the sessions and delegates received a 600-page record of the presentations – at the beginning, to complement the two books on the seminar work. National TV used an outside broadcast unit to transmit live interviews. The most common question was, "How does Indian EW rate compared to elsewhere?" Given the quality of the conference, the delegates, the exhibitors and all the speakers from India as well as the evident technical prowess the only answer could be, "Very highly indeed." The 22 technical sessions that followed the Plenary Session covered not less than 30 areas of the field of EW: Two Sessions: EW SYSTEMS AND TECHNIQUES – I and II Two Sessions: EW RECEVIERS AND HIGH POWER TRANSMITTERS – I and II One Session: NETWORK CENTRIC AND INFORMATION WARFARE One Session: ELINT, SIGINT AND ESM SYSTEMS Three Sessions: EO BASED EW SYSTEMS AND EW ANTENNAS & ACTIVE PHASED ARRAY SYSTEMS I , II and III Two Sessions: COMMUNICATION EW – I and II Three Sessions: EW SIGNAL PROCESSORS AND DIGITAL RECEIVERS – I, II and III Two Sessions: SELF PROTECTION JAMMERS AND DEW – I and II Three Sessions: EW/ EO THREAT STIMULATORS & EW TESTING/ EVALUATION – I , II and III One Session: EMITTER LOCATION/DF TECHNIQUES AND SYSTEMS Two Sessions: EW POLICIES, OPERATIONAL CAPABILITY AND PRODUCTION – I and II INDIAN EW CHAPTER INAUGURATION  Don Richetti made a gracious speech of welcome to the new chapter and handed over a plaque during the inauguration ceremony, followed by a few words of fraternal greetings to the new chapter from the President of the UK Chapter. An enthusiastic audience gave a tumultuous response as the UK president noted that the Indian Chapter had the potential for very rapid growth to become the largest non-US chapter in the world, taking on the mantle from the UK.INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION Representatives of the overseas exhibitors were questioned throughout the event and all were unanimous in their fulsome praise of every aspect of the conference and exhibition.  Many remarked on the great enthusiasm and knowledge of the delegates and their willingness to spend time examining products and debating issues of interest. A number remarked positively on the familiar "look and feel" and high standard of the event, a tribute to the organizers, the AOC and the Shephard group. One quote among many from the experienced exhibitors sums it up well:"India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is to be congratulated on a well-designed and well-conducted event, which provided an extremely useful insight into the directions being taken by India's EW community. EW Conference India 2010 'raised the bar' in respect of the technical level of the briefs and the associated debates and questioning, and SELEX Galileo were proud to contribute to its success." – Wynne Davies, SELEX Galileo, UK SOCIAL EXTRAVAGANZA  Attendees at the event were hosted wonderfully throughout with some discovering for the first time the delights of many types of curry. The social highlight was a hosted Indian dance extravaganza covering several thousand years of Indian dance culture followed by an outdoor poolside banquet. One of the European exhibitors emotionally thanked the Indian hosts on behalf of all the non-Indians present in the 500-strong crowd for what was an extremely engaging and moving experience. Once again, the bar has been set high for future conferences and although this social event may perhaps one day be equaled, it is unlikely ever to be surpassed.CONCLUDING FUNCTION A Concluding Ceremony was organized at the end of the day on 11 Feb 2010. Being the first international conference in the EW field in India, two pioneers in the field of Indian EW, Professor V K Aatre and Professor R P Shenoy, were felicitated on the occasion.  Other dignitaries who contributed to the cause of EW were also honored and given a memento during the function. SUMMARY Feedback from International, National and Armed Services attendees was sought. The overwhelming response was that EWCI 2010 was of immense technical value, the topics covered were exhaustive and the wholec conference was well organized. The feedback from the exhibitors in the exhibition was also very positive and encouraging. After such a success, planning is beginning for another international EW conference in Southern India, most likely in 2012. On the evidence of this year's event, it will be well worth attending as a speaker, delegate or exhibitor.
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