NEW DELHI: The defence ministry on Wednesday inked a Rs 2,906 crore contract for procurement of 18 `Ashwini’ low-level transportable radars (LLTRs) for the IAF, as part of the ongoing drive to strengthen indigenous military capabilities.
The contract was inked with defence PSU Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL), in the presence of defence secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, for the LLTRs designed and developed by the Electronics & Radar Development Establishment of DRDO. This is the first time that the IAF will induct indigenous LLTRs instead of those imported from abroad.
“The Ashwini LLTR is an active electronically scanned phased array radar based on state-of-the-art solid-state technology. The radar is capable of tracking aerial targets from high-speed fighters to slow-moving targets such as UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) or drones and helicopters,” a MoD official said.
“The acquisition will significantly enhance IAF’s operational preparedness. The programme is a major step towards achieving self-reliance in defence manufacturing by reducing dependency on foreign companies, besides acting as a catalyst for development of the country’s defence-industrial ecosystem,” he added.
The IAF deploys a variety of ground-based radars, including LLTRs, as well as airborne sensors for ISR (intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) capabilities along the borders with China and Pakistan.
The force is also looking to induct specialized mountain radars to look deep into enemy territory along the 3,488-km Line of Actual Control with China, which has upgraded all its air bases facing India and deployed an extensive network of radars and surface-to-air guided weapons since the military confrontation in eastern Ladakh erupted in April-May 2020.