By Harendra Chaudhary

New Delhi: To completely digitalise and modernise the management of its weapons, ammunition, and explosives, the Navy has initiated the Indian Naval Armament Management System Version 2.0 (INAMS Ver 2.0) project.

This will be an advanced digital platform that will enable the Navy to manage its weapons, missiles, mines, torpedoes, ammunition, storage, repair, and supply systems in an integrated manner.

The system will operate under the Indian Navy’s Directorate General of Naval Armament (DGoNA). Its purpose is to integrate the various disparate processes operating at Naval Armament Depots and Naval Headquarters into a single digital network.

According to Indian Navy officials, INAMS Ver 2.0 is an upgraded version of the older INAMS-I system designed to be a more secure, faster, and data-driven decision-making platform.

The Indian Navy’s Naval Armament Organisation handles the procurement, storage, repair, and supply of weapons, ammunition, and explosives for the Navy and the Indian Coast Guard.

The Directorate General of Naval Armament works in collaboration with various defence institutions, DRDO labs, defence public sector undertakings, and other branches of the Navy to manage its inventory of missiles, torpedoes, mines, small arms, and other explosive devices.

Until now, a large part of these processes relied on disparate systems and manual entry, but the new INAMS-II system will transform these into a fully web-based and integrated platform.

According to a Request for Information issued by the Ministry of Defence, INAMS 2.0 will not only be a stores management system but will cover almost every aspect of the Navy’s weapon management.

It will include modules covering weapons supply, ammunition preparation, repair and maintenance, procurement processes, transport, fire safety, training, audit, and production.

All information, including the number of weapons on hand, which systems are in repair, which equipment has been shipped, and which ammunition needs life extension, will be available in real time. The system will also support barcode and QR code-based tracking to facilitate monitoring of store movements and supplies.

Divisions within the Navy’s various armament depots will also be integrated into this system. These include the Guided Weapons Division, Ammunition Workshop, Material Management, Transport, HRD and Training, Security, and Medical.

The most significant feature of INAMS 2.0 is its inclusion of artificial intelligence and machine learning-based analytics. According to the RFI, the system is being developed to be artificial intelligence and machine learning-ready. In the future, this system will be able to identify data patterns, make predictions, and assist in decision-making.

For example, if a missile system is experiencing frequent malfunctions or if ammunition is nearing its storage life, the system will be able to provide advanced alerts. This will improve the Navy’s predictive maintenance and inventory management.

Because the system will handle sensitive military data, cybersecurity has been given the highest priority. The system will be equipped with security technologies such as multi-factor authentication, AES encryption, audit trail, role-based access control, and vulnerability assessment.

Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration Testing (VAPT) will also be mandatory annually. No major changes to the system will be permitted without the approval of the Navy’s Cyber ​​Group. Separate security protocols will also be established to protect AI systems from threats such as data poisoning, system manipulation, and privacy breaches.

The INAMS-II software is being designed to be used by approximately 1,200 people simultaneously across India. The system will be deployed at the Indian Navy’s Central Data Center (CDC), Regional Data Centers (RDC), and Naval Headquarters, enabling officers and units located at different locations to work on a single network.

INAMS-II will operate on the Indian Navy’s Indian Navy Centric Network (NCN). This network connects the Navy’s data centers, command headquarters, and various depots. Information from radars, logistics systems, and other operational platforms will also be shared through this network.

Even if internet or network connectivity is limited, the system can still function offline. Data will be synchronised when a network connection is restored.

The Navy will also purchase new hardware for the system. This will include desktop computers, digital pens, tablets, QR code scanners, printers, and network equipment. Personnel in field units and depots will be able to enter data directly from tablets or digital devices.

This will reduce manual paperwork and minimise data entry errors. The system will also support different operating systems, including Windows, Linux, and Android.

The complete source code for this software will be handed over to the Indian Navy after the completion of each stage. Along with the final version, comprehensive documentation will also be provided, detailing the functionality of every module and feature.

Should any modifications or new features need to be incorporated into the software in the future, the necessary instructions will be clearly outlined in the documentation to facilitate easy system updates.

The Navy has clarified that full ownership rights to this software will remain with the Indian Navy. This project is being developed specifically for the Indian Navy; consequently, its source code, design, and other technical data cannot be utilised by any other entity or project without the Navy’s explicit permission.

INAMS 2.0 will be implemented in several phases. Initially, the existing version will undergo a comprehensive study, followed by the design, development, and testing stages. Subsequently, tasks involving data migration, user training, and system integration will be undertaken.

According to the Navy, specific milestones such as an “Intermediate Go-Live” and a “Final Go-Live” have also been established. Following the final launch, operational and maintenance support will be provided for a period of three years.

The Navy has also placed significant emphasis on the indigenisation of this system. The system will feature distinct modules designed to track and identify which equipment or spare parts are of indigenous origin and which are foreign-sourced. The Indian Navy’s objective is to enhance the participation of domestic industries within the defence supply chain.

For this very reason, the source code and Intellectual Property Rights associated with this project will reside entirely with the Indian Navy. This approach will reduce dependence on foreign companies and enable the system to be upgraded domestically within India in the future.

The Indian Navy’s Naval Armament Depots are strategically located across various parts of the country. These depots serve as the primary hubs for supplying weapons and ammunition to the Navy’s warships and the Coast Guard.

Operations within these depots involve the simultaneous execution of a wide range of activities, including storage, transportation, repair, testing, and disposal.

With the implementation of INAMS-II, data from every depot will be integrated into a central system. If a ship requires missiles or ammunition, this information will immediately become visible on the network. Similarly, activities related to transport, fire safety, and maintenance will also be digitally trackable.

The new system will also incorporate an audit module. This ensures that comprehensive records of weapons and explosive materials are securely maintained in a digital format. The system will also log details such as which officer accessed data and when, who made modifications, and which specific files were downloaded.

This initiative will enhance both accountability and transparency. Furthermore, it will simplify the process of tracking data for security audits and investigative agencies.

INAMS 2.0 will also feature a natural language search capability. This implies that users will be able to search for information using ordinary, conversational language. For instance, if an officer wishes to ascertain the status of a specific missile batch or a particular type of ammunition, they can perform a direct search within the system.

The system will be capable of handling both structured and unstructured data. It will also support the inclusion of images, videos, and scanned documents.

The Navy has also announced plans to establish a dedicated data centre infrastructure. A central data centre and a disaster recovery centre will be set up to support the system. If the primary server goes offline for any reason, the backup system will be able to immediately take over operations.

Technologies such as load balancing, clustering, and high availability will be employed to ensure the system remains continuously operational. According to officials from the Ministry of Defence, this project is regarded as a pivotal component of the Indian Navy’s digital modernisation drive.

Navy officers said data about weapons, ammunition, and logistics is now just as critical in modern warfare as the weaponry itself. Consequently, INAMS 2.0 is viewed not merely as a software application, but rather as the digital command platform for the Navy’s entire armament network.

NOTE: Follow Defence.Capital on Arattai.
NOTE: Follow Defence.Capital on Telegram.
NOTE: Follow Defence.Capital on WhatsApp.