Indian Fighter Jets To Get Digital Maps, Help Pilots Not Lose Directions

Pilots will be able to check the map on their cockpit display while flying and this will aid the navigation, said an HAL official.

Indian fighter jets will soon be equipped with digital maps to help pilots avoid losing directions, said a top official from the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), a premier aerospace and defence manufacturer.

"Now no pilot will cross the border by mistake. They won't lose the way like Group Captain Abhinandan. No pilot will have a manual map anymore as the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited has prepared a digital map for the pilots," said DK Sunil, director, Engineering and R&D, HAL.

Group Captain Abhinandan Varthaman, then a Wing Commander, was captured by Pakistani forces after he ejected from his MiG-21, which went down after striking an enemy jet during the 2019 Balakot airstrikes. He was returned three days later.

In such combat situations, digital maps are expected to help pilots avoid losing directions and stay within boundaries, the defence manufacturer expects. The process is already underway to equip the Indian fighter jets with the latest digital maps.