Indian Air Force's 84 Su-30 MKI Jets To Get 'Virupaaksha' AESA Radar As Part Of Sukhoi's Rs 65,000 Crore Upgrade Program

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is set to upgrade its Russian-origin Sukhoi Su-30 MKI fighter jets with the domestically manufactured 'Virupaaksha' Advanced Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, reported ANI.

The upgrade will be carried out as part of the Rs 65,000 crore Sukhoi upgrade program, the plans of which were confirmed by IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal (ACM) VR Chaudhari.

Under the upgrade program, IAF plans to equip 84 Sukhoi fighters with the new generation Virupaaksha AESA radar, a Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) manufactured infrared search and track system (IRST), and upgrades to the computers, and software, in the first phase.

Additionally, new generation electronic warfare (EW), electronic countermeasures (ECM), electronic support measures (ESM), and electronic counter countermeasures (ECCM) systems will be installed on the jet.

Subsequently, the remaining 176 Sukhoi's willl be upgraded in India by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

The Virupaaksha AESA radar is expected to be an advanced version of the Uttam AESA radar, designed to replace the Israeli Elta EL/M 2052 radar installed in Tejas Mk-1A fighter jet, starting from the 41 airframe.

Uttam AESA radar is indigenously developed by Electronics and Radar Development Establishment (LRDE) laboratory of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

The Virupaaksha radar will likely feature close to 2000 advanced next-generation Gallium Nitride (GaN) transmit and receive modules (TRM) antennas, in contrast to the earlier Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) made TRMs.

The GaN TRMs not only enhance the radar's performance but also enable the integration of indigenously developed weaponry onto the aircraft, reducing foreign exchange outgo for weapons import.

This upgrade package could also be marketed to friendly countries like Vietnam, Malaysia.