IAF to deploy state-of-the-art radars near border areas

Jaisalmer: With a state-of-the-art SU-30MKI fighter squadron commissioned at the Jodhpur air base, the Indian Air Force (IAF) is now beefing up air defence capabilities by commissioning the Arudhra radar at most of its forward air force stations in the Rajasthan and Gujarat region near the border with Pakistan.

The first Arudhra medium-power radar (MPR) was commissioned at the Naliya air force station of the Gujarat sector in June 2011. The MPRs have been developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) with technical support from Israel.

The Arudhra is a 4D medium power radar (MPR) which can act as a sophisticated multi-mode sensor for fast changing modern battle fields. MPR uses advanced active array technology, digital processing technologies - Digital Beam Forming and Programmable Signal Processing - to meet operational requirements of air space surveillance covering 100 m to 30 km altitude.

The S-band solid state active aperture radar can detect and track any airborne targets up to 100 km. The radar has a rotating phased array antenna covering 360°. It also has steering mode with electronic scanning in azimuth and elevation providing range, direction, height and Doppler velocity information of the tracked aerial targets.

Initially, only eight of these indigenous radars have been inducted by the IAF and subsequently most of the forward and strategic air bases like Utarlai, Jodhpur,Jaisalmer, Phalodi ,Suratgarh and Nal (Bikaner)in Rajasthan region are likely have the Arudhra to meet operational requirements.

"This radar has been developed by the Electronic & Radar Development Organisation of DRDO. It has been inducted to replace the ageing TRS-2215 and PSM-33 radars on the inventory of IAF. The radar is a state-of- art technology capable of detecting targets at ranges greater than 300km and it is an important component in IAF plans to achieve net centric operations. The radar would strengthen air defence in the Saurashtra-Kutch region," defence spokesperson SD Goswami said.

The IAF has significantly improved its air defence capabilities by acquiring the Integrated Air Command and Control Systems and connecting all of its modern and legacy radars under one single grid.