Following Pakistan’s extensive use of drone swarms during hostilities after Operation Sindoor, the Indian Army is moving to strengthen its air defence grid along the northern and western borders with advanced radars capable of detecting low radar cross-section (RCS) aerial threats.

Need for Radar Upgrade

• Drone Threat: Pakistan employed camouflaged surveillance and attack UAV swarms to target civilian and defence installations.
• Low RCS Challenge: Existing aerial threats include low radar cross-section (RCS) objects, making them difficult to detect with conventional systems.

About Radar

• Definition: Radar (Radio Detection and Ranging) is a system that uses radio waves to determine the range, angle, or velocity of objects.
• Components: Typically consists of a magnetron, transmitter, receiver, and display screen.
• Working Principle:
• • The magnetron generates radio waves, which are transmitted through an antenna in specific directions.
  • If the waves encounter an object, such as an aircraft, they bounce back and are received by the radar system.
  • The reflected signals are displayed on a screen, showing the object as a blip and tracking its movement over time.

Radar Systems to be Procured

• Low Level Light Weight Radars (Improved) (LLLR-I):
  • 3D Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar.
  • Equipped with Commander’s Display Unit, Target Designation System, integral power supply.
  • Operable across terrains: mountains, high-altitude areas, deserts, coasts.
  • Detects targets within 50 km range, can track 100+ targets simultaneously.
• Low Level Light Weight Radars (Enhanced) (LLLR-E):
  • Features of LLLR-I + Electro-Optical Tracking System (EOTS) and passive Radio Frequency detection.
  • Detects low-RCS drones (including swarms).
  • Day-night tracking, independent or radar-cued.
  • Transmits target data to weapon systems within 10 km
• Air Defence Fire Control Radar–Drone Detectors (ADFCR-DD):
  • Integrated system: search radar, track radar, fire control, IFF (Identification Friend or Foe).

• • Mounted on a single vehicle.
  • Controls fire of at least two L/70 or successor air defence guns.
  • Feeds target data to Very Short Range Air Defence Systems (VSHORADS) for close-range interception.

Integration with Defence Systems

• Air Defence Network: All new radars will be integrated into the Akashteer air defence network for real-time battlefield situational awareness.
• Fire Control Systems: Data from multiple radars and electro-optical sensors will be processed to compute firing solutions and relay them to gun systems and shoulder-fired missiles.

About Akashteer

• Intelligent Air Defence System: Vehicle-mounted system providing a real-time, common air picture for radars, control rooms, and defence guns.
• Integration with C4ISR: Links multiple radars, sensors, and communication systems into the broader Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) framework, enabling Army, Navy, and Air Force coordination.
• Operational Advantage: Allows autonomous monitoring of low-level airspace and rapid control of ground-based air defence weapons, marking a shift from passive defence to proactive retaliation.
• Developed by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) under the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative.
• Strategic Edge: Enhances India’s capability to counter asymmetric threats, hybrid warfare, and cross-border attacks, making it a cornerstone of modern air defence strategy.
• Features of Akashteer
• • Automated Detection & Engagement: Processes data from multiple radars and sensors to automatically track and engage threats.
  • Mobility: Vehicle-mounted design ensures deployment in hostile and dynamic war zones.
  • Integration of Defence Assets: Seamlessly works with radars, electro-optical sensors, guns, and shoulder-fired missiles for coordinated air defence.
  • Real-Time Situational Awareness: Provides instant battlefield intelligence to all forces for quick decision-making. 

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