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BEL on fast track to supply Rohini radars to the armed forces
January 27, 2012
by Sushil Sharma
New Delhi: India''s pioneer defence electronics company Bharat Electronic Limited (BEL), is in the process of supplying wide range of electronic sensors, radars and night vision devices to augment the modernisation of the armed forces. .
The Chairman and Managing Director of BEL, Anil Kumar told
BDK that Indian Army has placed order for supply of 29 Rohini radars (6 regiments) to support the indigenously defeloped Akash (surface-to-air-missile) air defence missiles. The radar has a range of 150 Kms. India Air Force has placed order for 37 such radars of which 14 have already been delivered. BEL will supply 7 Rohini radar systems to Indian Navy too, he said. .
For the last few years, Indias defence forces have been in the process of modernising their infrastructure and areas of operations. BEL has been proactively participating in this modernisation drive. The company has been in the limelight for its role as the lead integrator of the prestigious Akash project for the Indian Air Force (IAF).
Yet another important project which BEL has executed recently is the Weapon Locating Radar (WLR). The army has placed an order for 30 WLRs to BEL. India made WLRs are claimed to be better than the U.S.A. made ANTPQ-37 WLR imported after the 1999 Kagil war with Pakistan. Besides this, the company has also done some major work on upgrading the radar of the Schilka self-propelled, anti-aircraft weapons system.
Indian Army had imported some 90 odd Schilka tanks from Russia in 1984-85 and these tanks are equipped with ZU-23 gun systems.
These tanks are fuel guzzlers in a way that they have gas turbine engines and consume 90 litres of fuel in an hour. BEL is replacing gas engines with diesel engines and the fuel consumption will go down to 9 litres per hour.
They will also have a 3D phased array radar, state-of-the-art electronics and air conditioning for better performance of the new systems. Kumar said, Even Russians could not upgrade the Schilka systems but we did it. In the first phase, we have an order to upgrade 48 systems and we will complete it in 3-4 years.
BEL is supplying the all-weather, 24x7 sophisticated Coastal Surveillance System which it has developed to safeguard the countrys vast coastline. For coastal security, 48 locations will be installed with coastal surveillance radars out of which 35 have already been supplied to the locations. The system networks radars, sensors, day & night electro-optical equipment, Automatic Identification System and meteorological equipment to present an integrated operational picture of the offshore to the user.
This project was initiated in the backdrop of the 26/11 terrorist attack. Systems will be installed in locations covering the coast of India including the Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep.
Bharat Electronic Limited (BEL), a Navratna Defence Public Sector Undertaking, has kept pace with the rapid changes happening in the area of strategic electronics and focussed on the design, development and manufacture of critical technologies that go a long way in safeguarding the nations frontiers.
The Bangalore-based company, which has its manufacturing network spread over 9 Units across the country, has made significant contributions to meet Indias defence electronics needs, manufacturing state-of-the-art products in the areas of Military Communication, Radars, Naval Systems, C4I Systems, Weapon Systems, Electronic Warfare, Tank Electronics, Electro Optics, Telecom & Broadcast, Professional Electronic Components and Solar Photovoltaic Systems.
BEL has also set up Development & Engineering teams to work in the strategic areas of Tactical Communication Systems, Battlefield Management System, Command Information Decision Support System, Future Infantry Soldier System and High Data Rate Multi-band Software Defined Radio.
Significant orders executed: Supplies to the defence contributed to 80% of the turnover during 2010-11. Some of the significant orders executed during the year are as follows:
- Artillery Combat Command Control System: Automates artillery functions with the use of latest technologies to achieve quick and accurate fire.
- Surveillance Radar Element: An S-band Air Traffic Control Radar suited for Terminal Control applications with a range of 130 km.
- 3-D Central Acquisition Radar (Rohini): A 3-D surveillance radar in S band for the IAF.
- Combat Net Radio: A VHF Frequency Hopping communication radio fitted in armoured vehicle.
- VPS Mk III: A UHF Handheld Radio.
- Battle Field Surveillance Radar
- Medium Range with Mast: A ground surveillance and acquisition radar capable of automatically detecting and displaying diverse moving targets such as pedestrians, vehicles, tanks and low-flying helicopters.
- RAWL 02 Mk III: A long-range surveillance radar operating in D band.
- Ground Based Mobile ELINT: An Electronic Intelligence Gathering System (Radar band) used during peace time.
- Composite Communication System - CCS Mk III: The newly developed system providing internal and external communications for Naval ships.
- Naval Heliborne ESM system: A lightweight ESM system for helicopters of the Indian Navy.
- Air Defence Control & Reporting System: A Command & Control system for integration of various radars and other Army systems for air defence.
- Advanced Naval Gun Fire Control System (LYNX U-1): A state-of-the-art system developed to be installed onboard the P-28 class of ships for short/medium range Gun Fire Control.
- Doppler Weather Radar: An S-band radar meant for long-range weather surveillance (up to 500 km).
New products: The company also introduced many new products such as Akash Weapon System; HUMSA-NG, an advanced new generation, hull-mounted, medium-range, medium-frequency sonar which meets present day Anti Submarine Warfare needs; Semi-Ruggedised Automatic Exchange (SRAX Mk II), a Semi Ruggedised Automatic Digital Telephone Exchange with voice/data/video conferencing features; Instant Fire Detection and Suppression System (IFDSS) for BMP 2/2K; Mobile Communication Terminal, an IP-based Network Centric Solution for secure voice & data communication; and Low Power Jammer, a Communication Electronic Warfare system.
While defence continues to be its mainstay, BEL has been utilising the spin-off technologies to expand its horizons beyond defence electronics and touch a chord with the common man through civilian products like Solar Traffic Signals and Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).
Business initiatives: BEL is considering foraying into new business areas like Nuclear Power Instrumentation, Solar/Clean Energy solutions and Homeland Security. The company is also keen to forge joint ventures in areas such as civilian and select defence radars and Solar Photovoltaic systems.
BEL is holding discussions with Thales, France, on forming a Joint Venture Company (JVC) in India in the areas of civilian and select defence radars. The proposal is in the advanced stages of discussions. BEL is also discussing with BHEL for setting up a JVC for Solar Photovoltaic manufacturing.
The business plan for setting up the JVC has been finalised and both the companies are in the process of obtaining Board approvals.
Bharat Defence Kavach - BEL on fast track to supply Rohini radars to the armed forces
