Context: The Indian Army has initiated the procurement of a new range of advanced Air Defence (AD) radars to strengthen its surveillance and strike capabilities along the Northern and Western borders.
Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: About radar and its working.
This step comes in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor (May 2025) during which some Pakistani drones intruded into Indian airspace which exposed serious gaps in India’s air defence coverage.
What is Radar?
- Radar is the acronym for RAdio Detection And Ranging.
- It is a specialised electronic system that uses radio waves to determine the direction, distance, and velocity of target objects.
- Air Defence radars are used by the military to search, detect, identify, and help destroy aerial threats.
How Radar Works?
- A radar comprises two basic components: Transmitter and Receiver.
- A transmitter sends out radio signals, and a receiver collects any reflected signals from the target.
- The angular direction of a target is determined based on the direction from which the reflected signals are received. The measurement of the location of a target at successive moments helps calculate its trajectory.
There are primarily two kinds of Air Defence Radars: Surveillance radars and Fire control radars.
- Surveillance Radars: These constantly scan the skies to detect aerial objects. They provide early warning but are not directly linked to weapon systems.
- Fire Control Radars: These provide precise tracking data to guide surface-to-air guns and missile systems for neutralising threats.
Current Air Defence Radar Capabilities in India:
- Both the Army and the Indian Air Force (IAF) operate surveillance and fire control radars. The IAF manages most High Power Radars (HPRs) and Medium Power Radars (MPRs).
- They can detect and track aerial threats several hundred kilometres away, especially at higher altitudes.
- These radars are essential against high-value threats such as fighter jets, enemy transport aircraft, and Airborne Warning and Control Systems (AWACS).
- Both the IAF and Army also operate Low Level Light Weight Radars (LLLRs), which are designed to detect smaller aerial objects flying at low altitudes.
- For fire control, the IAF uses the 3D Central Acquisition Radar and the Rajendra Radar, while the Army primarily employs Flycatchers (indigenously upgraded Super Fledermaus) and the Air Defence Tactical Control Radar.
Issues with the Existing Infrastructure:
- Many of the Army’s radars are aging and inadequate for detecting low-RCS drones and UAV swarms.
- The Radar Cross Section (RCS) is a measure of how detectable an object is to radar, usually expressed in square metres. A lower RCS makes an object harder to detect.
- During Operation Sindoor (2025), Pakistan used hundreds of drones, including decoys and attack UAVs, to breach Indian airspace and expose system vulnerabilities.
Experiences from conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza show that traditional air defence systems are easily overwhelmed by swarms of drones and stealthy aerial objects, underscoring the urgent need for modernised detection and response systems in India.
The Army has sought to procure up to 45 Low Level Light Weight Radars (Enhanced), up to 48 Air Defence Fire Control Radar-Drone Detectors (ADFCR-DD), and 10 Low Level Light Weight Radars (Improved).
Significance:
- These systems will specifically address challenges posed by small, low-flying, and low- Radar Cross Section (RCS drones) which older radars struggle to detect.
- Enhanced LLLRs will provide accurate detection and transmit target data to weapons up to 10 km away.
- ADFCR-DDs will allow identification, classification, and engagement of even the smallest drones, thereby making counter-drone operations more effective.
The procurement of advanced AD radars enhances India’s preparedness against emerging aerial threats and supports the creation of a seamless multi-layered defence shield envisioned under Mission Sudarshan Chakra.