DAC Likely to Reject DRDO's 'Uttam' Radar Integration Plans for Rafale-M Over Cost & Delays

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) is set to scrap the proposal to integrate the Defence Research and Development Organisation’s (DRDO) experimental Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, likely the 'Uttam,' onto the Rafale-M fighters, according to a recent report by the Hindustan Times. The decision stems from concerns over the high cost and potential delays associated with integrating a new radar system into the Rafale-M platform.

The Indian Navy urgently requires Rafale-M fighters to bolster its naval air power, especially with the commissioning of the INS Vikrant aircraft carrier and the need to upgrade its existing MiG-29K fleet.

While the DRDO's Uttam radar, currently under development for the Tejas MkII and MiG-29K programs, offered potential benefits such as greater commonality across the Navy's fighter fleet and alignment with India's "Make in India" initiative, the complexities and costs of integration appear to have outweighed these advantages.

Integrating a new radar system onto an existing aircraft is a significant undertaking, requiring extensive testing, software development, and certification. The financial burden and potential project delays associated with this process ultimately led the DAC to prioritize the timely acquisition of Rafale-M fighters with their proven AESA RBE2 radar system.

This decision allows the Indian Navy to acquire a battle-tested, high-performance radar system that is already seamlessly integrated into the Rafale's combat system. Meanwhile, the DRDO's efforts to develop the Uttam AESA radar for the Tejas MkII and potentially for future upgrades to the MiG-29K fleet will continue, underscoring India's commitment to advancing its indigenous defense capabilities.

 

[Raj]

We should accept french radar is not that great. That's why navy want to replace. In this case india may not select Rafale in mrfa. It's not a gallium nitride tech

 

[RK]

Our Military leadership is completely screwed up. Why buy a costly fighter jet without its proven Radar system and that too replace it with an untested Radar ? It's no consolation that the ideas was thrown out but question is , which other airforce on this planet can come with such stupid ideas in the first place ? . 70 years of independence and we r here, still the best importer ...

 

[NSR]

Whoa same mistakes India made with IAF Rafales with India Specific Enhancements too.

What a foolish idea as Uttam AESA radar is not even fully operational on any of Indian fighters right now and also still in the final tests and integration trials.

It requires massive efforts and expenses even if we try to do it as Uttam AESA radar data will drive Rafale Spectra EW, RWR, IRST, etc and is also very time consuming too.

GoI, MoD, DRDO, and Indian Navy have not learned a diddly from 36 Rafales India Specific Enhancement saga.

Sad state of planning and managing contract acquisitions in India.

 

[Instant Karma]

Better to integrate them with Sukhoi and mig 29.

 

[sanket]

First upgrade Mirage-2000 jet with Uttam ESA Radar & Indian / Third party weapons too which lacks even PESA Radar

 

[Mithu Roy]

Services have started buying dreams sold by drdo.
uttam had been in development for last decades yet it is never ready.
why it could not make it to Tejas mark a is a mystery.
with a delay in delivery by a year,still hal plans to fit it with 41 st aircraft which my opinion should be belching out in F29 -30 realistically.
that means radar is still facing infant mortality rate

 

[Sandeep]

It’s better to use their radar for now. Even if the order is placed now then it will take about 3-4 years before we start to receive the jets and if we integrate our own radar then that will cost more and delay the delivery by another 1-2 years. Our carrier needs these jets now as it’s unguarded and empty so it’s best to get them as fast as possible. Later on if we upgrade the jets then we can install our own radars, software and sensors etc.

 

[Rajesh]

Sad that when an option to replace french radar with our is available we hesitate . we could validate our radars which will be used for our indigenous projects and also opting for our radar means we can integrate our weapons like we do in su30. All depends on commission rather than national interest.

 

[Pad UwU]

We should push the Frenchies to integrate our AESA GAN radar to our rafale m if we capable producing Uttam. Because rafales AESA rbe2 radar is just a plain gallium arsenide that is a bit inferior to GAN technology....

we already wasted too much money on France 4gen+ aircraft... We just need to waste more in our own terms😹😹😹😹