Astra Microwave Emerges as Key Player in Uttam AESA Radar Production for Tejas, Has Capacity to Produce 36 Radars Annually

Hyderabad-based Astra Microwave Products Limited (AMP) has become a vital contributor to India's domestic defence production capabilities. The company has announced it can produce 36 Uttam Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radars annually.

This capacity highlights AMP's expanding contribution to providing the Indian armed forces with advanced technology, supporting the national "Make in India" and "Atmanirbhar Bharat" (self-reliant India) programs, which aim to decrease reliance on imported defence equipment.

The Uttam AESA radar, created by the Defence Research and Development Organisation's (DRDO) Electronics and Radar Development Establishment (LRDE), signifies a major advancement in Indian radar technology.

AESA radars, unlike older mechanically scanned radars, utilize an array of antennas to electronically direct the radar beam. This provides improved capabilities in detecting, tracking, and engaging targets.

The Uttam radar is built to improve the performance of fighter aircraft by enabling tracking of multiple targets simultaneously, providing resistance to electronic interference, and reducing the likelihood of being detected. These qualities make it an essential component for modern air combat.

The Uttam AESA radar is primarily designed for integration with India's domestically produced Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas, specifically the Mk1A and Mk2 variants. There are also considerations for incorporating it into other aircraft, such as the Su-30 MKI and MiG-29, during future upgrades.

According to the DRDO, the radar's advanced capabilities include air-to-air, air-to-ground, and air-to-sea operational modes, and it features over 900 Transmit/Receive Modules (TRMs), a key component for its electronic scanning function. This versatility significantly enhances the Indian Air Force's (IAF) operational capabilities.

AMP's production capacity of 36 radars per year guarantees a consistent supply of these sophisticated systems for the IAF. This reduces dependence on international suppliers and lowers the risks related to international supply chain issues.

Furthermore, the fact that 95% of the Uttam radar's components are made in India, with only one subsystem imported, demonstrates India's increasing technological expertise and AMP's contribution to building a strong national defence industry.

The high level of indigenous content aligns perfectly with India's goals of "Atmanirbhar Bharat," showcasing significant progress in achieving self-sufficiency in critical defence technologies.

 

[Surfer]

We still have a lot of time for Tejas MK2, so no hurry.

 

[Rinku Pandey]

Atmanirbharta bearing fruits. I congratulate DRDO for this splendid work. Now our MK1A will have Uttam GaN radars along with the MK2, TEDBF, AMCA, Su-30MKI, and MiG-29UPGs.

 

[sanket]

Good production capacity of Uttam AESA Radar of 36 per year, but engine production rate should also be the same; otherwise, it's of no use. I have several times said GE needs to ramp up production rate beyond 30 per year from the current 16.

 

[desigandu]

Good development! We should strive to make these AESA radars with 100% indigenous content! Also ability to scale up to say 48-60 per year should be looked at especially as refits and upgrades take place!

 

[Sandeep]

It’s really great in getting to 100% indigenously design, develop and manufacture it from Indian raw materials. The production rate is too slow and low because we need to change a lot of our radars with different variants across the entire fleet.

We need at least 300 for the Sukhoi jets, 200 Tejas MK1A, 100-200 Tejas MK2, 100-150 Mig 29 and maybe the Mirage 2000 jets. The biggest order will be for the AMCA jets as we could buy anywhere between 200-400 jets or more. Given the huge backlog the company will need to ramp up production to at least 100 a year to us.