DRDO Surges Ahead With 2nd Phase of
AEW&CS, Plans to Integrate AESA Radar on
Tejas Mark 2 as Well
Posted on: July 23, 2012
The state-
run Defence Research and Development
Organization ( DRDO) have received
sanctions to pursue the second phase of
AEW&CS (Airborne Early Warning and
Control System) programme. In a recent
report, DRDO Chief Dr.VK Saraswat has
stated that the project will be called
AEW&CS India and the requisite sanctions
have been granted for the same. Besides, the
homegrown AESA radar will also be
integrated into the Tejas Mark II LCA.
According to DRDO Chief Dr.VK Saraswat,
the AEW&CS project will be developed like
the three Phalcon AEW&C systems acquired
from Israel. Once the full clearance is
acquired, DRDO will be selecting a platform
based upon the radar configuration. DRDO
indicated that the full clearance from the
government is imminent since sanctions
have been given.
Regarding the DRDO strategy, the indigenous
Airborne Warning & Control System
(AWACS) capabilities will be developed
through a two pronged approach. The first
phase will involve the mounting of the
already developed radar system onto the
Embraer aircraft from Brazil. The first of the
three Embraer aircraft will be in India by
this month end.
DRDO Chief Saraswat stated that the first
phase is going smoothly the radar system
will be integrated on the first Embraer
aircraft this month. He added that dummy
radar has already been integrated in Brazil
on the platform and DRDO is satisfied with
all parameters and integration activities of
aircraft. Basically, the first phase of the
AWACS will have surveillance capabilities in
limited sectors with limited endurance
capabilities.
Since two more Embraer aircraft will come
to India next year, the indigenous radars are
also getting ready for integration on them.
DRDO has indicated that the AWACS project
is its priority and that the three Embraer
aircraft with the AWACS systems will be
completely operational by 2014-15,
according to DRDO.
Regarding the AEW&CS India project, DRDO
indicated that it will be developing a
complete 360 degree surveillance system.
The technology which has been realized for
the AWACS programme will be directly
applicable in the second phase of the project.
However, the configuration will be to ensure
that there is 360 degree coverage. Unlike the
phase one system with limited endurance,
this will have larger power and reach in
terms of the surveillance capability.
DRDO Chief VK Saraswat has also divulged
into the details of the indigenously
developed Active Electronically Scanned
Array (AESA) radar in the AEW&CS project.
Hailing the radar as the one the best in the
world, DRDO chief said that it can capture
images and send to the ground control
centers besides incorporating all the features
of an airborne surveillance system. It has
unmatchable resolution, performance and
electronic warfare capability.
The AESA radar is also expected to be
integrated with the Tejas Mark II LCA
besides other programmes. DRDO Chief
added that the work is already on and the
Tejas Mark-2 will have nothing but the AESA
radar. The DRDO lab LRDE is working on the
TR (Transmitter & Receiver) modules for the
same. Apparently, it is now possible to
configure small as well as large AESA radar.
The advantage of AESA is that more power
can be derived if you increase the numbers
of TR modules. DRDOs AESA radar will be of
same size and volume of the present radar
integrated on Tejas Mark-1. Once the work
starts for the Mark-2 of Tejas aircraft, the old
radar will be simply replaced by the
indigenous AESA radar.
DRDO Surges Ahead With 2nd Phase of AEW&CS, Plans to Integrate AESA Radar on Tejas Mark 2 as Well