New Delhi, Sep 8 (IANS) In a major step forward, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has fabricated a two-vehicle mobile communications unit that can be rushed to the site of a natural disaster spot to coordinate relief operations.

"To carry out proper relief operations, it is important that fast and reliable communication is established between the various agencies rendering assistance at the disaster site. Unfortunately, communications usually fail in the wake of a disaster. We have thus fabricated this mobile unit," Group Captain S.C. Luthra of the Air Force Communications Centre (AFCC) told reporters Friday.

Mounted on two Maruti Gypsy vehicles, the disaster management communication (DMC) unit is equipped with high frequency, very high frequency, and ultra high frequency ground-to-air communications sets, personal communications sets and an INMARSAT satellite phone.

One of the vehicles is despatched to the disaster site and the other to the closest air base. In case the disaster site is inaccessible, the vehicles can be airlifted on an AN-32 transport aircraft or a MI-17 helicopter.

"The set-up can be quickly activated to facilitate multiple communications requirements at a disaster site with both ground stations and aircraft flying in relief goods and personnel," explained Luthra, whose AFCC is responsible for operating the DMC units.

"Thus far, we have fabricated two units to validate their usefulness and will be commissioning a few more," he said.

The AFCC, which celebrates its 60th anniversary this year, is the nodal agency for providing voice and data communications facilities to Air Headquarters and is generally the first to be called upon whenever emergencies like natural disasters occur. The unit provided communications facilities in the wake of the Gujarat earthquake and during floods in Orissa.

After the Dec 26, 2004 killer tsunami, the AFCC provided satellite communications at the Andaman and Nicobar Islands on the same day when all other assets were destroyed.

"With each passing year, the unit has progressed in all spheres. It has always remained in the forefront in fulfilling the communications needs of the technology-intensive IAF," Luthra said.