Indian Air Force To Get Indigenous 'Ashwini' AESA Radars As Defence Ministry Inks Rs 2,906 Crore Deal With BEL

In a significant move to bolster India's indigenous defense capabilities, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has signed a capital acquisition contract with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Ghaziabad, for the procurement of Low-level Transportable Radar (LLTR) 'Ashwini' at a cost of Rs 2,906 crore.

The contract was signed in the presence of Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh in New Delhi on Wednesday (12 March).

The Ashwini radar, an active electronically scanned phased array radar, has been indigenously designed and developed by the Electronics and Radar Development Establishment, a laboratory under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

This state-of-the-art solid-state technology based radar is capable of tracking a wide range of aerial targets, from high-speed fighter aircraft to slow-moving objects such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and helicopters.

The induction of the Ashwini radar is expected to significantly enhance the operational preparedness of the Indian Air Force (IAF).

Its advanced capabilities will provide the IAF with improved surveillance and tracking of aerial threats, thereby strengthening national air defence.

This procurement aligns with the government's 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' (self-reliant India) initiative, aiming to reduce dependency on foreign-origin equipment manufacturers and promote indigenous defense manufacturing.

The Ashwini radar features integrated Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) systems with electronic scanning in azimuth and elevation, enabling 4D surveillance.

Designed for mobility, these radars come with advanced Electronic Counter-Countermeasures (ECCM) capabilities and can operate across various terrains.

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