Specialised radars for Army to detect low-flying threats at borders

The Ministry of Defence is looking to procure 30 low-level lightweight radars (LLLWR) to bolster the Army’s ability to tackle aerial threats along the borders, including UAVs and helicopters.

The Ministry of Defence has asked Indian vendors to submit their proposals, which is the second step in the acquisition process. The radars would fill gaps in air defence networks and provide early warning and tracking for targets at low to medium altitudes.

MoD envisages the LLLWR as a surveillance system for scanning air space, detecting, tracking, and prioritising targets based on threats and providing 3D imagery. An LLLWR typically operates in hilly or mountainous terrain or even on buildings, often filling gaps left by larger, long-range radars. Being lightweight and compact, it can be transported by men, vehicles, or helicopters to remote locations.

MoD says the radars should provide continuous 3D surveillance of friendly and hostile aerial targets in the area of responsibility. The radar should comprise a three-dimensional (3D) Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) technology search antenna based on Gallium Nitrate (GaN) modules and be able to detect aerial targets up to 50 km.

MoD wants a suitable target designation system to be available, which is capable of passing target data to a minimum of 10 command posts or 10 weapon systems through a distance of 20 km. This means a single radar can alert multiple commanders and enable shooting down of targets.

MoD wants the radar to display the target attributes of a minimum of four priority targets and prioritise the sequence of counter-attack based on the threat. The priority should be based on the target speed, its location, and its direction.

Also, MoD wants the radar to have equipment that can operate on Indian satellites and US Global Positioning System.