DRDO Advances Development of 360-Degree Radar Dome for Enhanced AWACS Capabilities

The Indian Air Force's (IAF) Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) capabilities are poised for a significant upgrade as the DRDO continues to advance its development of a dome-mounted radar system. This technology promises to provide comprehensive 360-degree coverage, addressing a current limitation of the existing Netra Mk1A AWACS systems.

The existing Netra Mk1A, while a valuable asset, relies on a dual Active Antenna Array Unit (AAAU) configuration positioned on the fuselage, resulting in a 240-degree coverage area. The dome antenna, in contrast, will be mounted atop the aircraft, eliminating blind spots and enhancing overall surveillance capabilities.

This development occurs concurrently with the ongoing procurement of six additional Netra Mk1A aircraft and the development of the Airbus A-321-based AEW&C MkII program. By pursuing the dome antenna technology in parallel, DRDO ensures the IAF can seamlessly transition to a more advanced AWACS system when program approvals are granted.

AWACS aircraft play a critical role in aerial surveillance, detection, and command and control functions. The enhanced capabilities offered by the 360-degree radar dome will significantly bolster the IAF's ability to monitor and defend Indian airspace.

While a specific timeline for the deployment of this technology remains undisclosed, the ongoing development by DRDO underscores India's commitment to advancing its air defense capabilities and maintaining a technological edge in the region.

 

[GMR]

Wish the "future" turns into Present while our generation is still alive 🙏

 

[charminar_waale_ismail_bhai]

I have no hope from HAL which has vast experience in not-producing anything of value but third rate excuses at best.

Hopefully, some day TATA advanced systems will rise from manufacturing the C295s to much larger aircrafts which will act as platforms for many good things to come in the future like air-tankers, transporters and AWACS.

 

[NSR]

I do not know how many people knows that terroristan/beggeristan somehow managed to get many more AWACS or AEWCs from the world over.
Surely IAF does not have any vision about future requirements as it was addicted foreign maals for a long time.
Need to work at WARP speed to get more of AWACS and AEWCs.

 

[beencensured]

I have no hope from HAL which has vast experience in not-producing anything of value but third rate excuses at best.

Hopefully, some day TATA advanced systems will rise from manufacturing the C295s to much larger aircrafts which will act as platforms for many good things to come in the future like air-tankers, transporters and AWACS.

Those shameless screw driver specialist like TATA would dream of ADA Or another to design it,. This why Tats is shameless. Tata does not take risks as crony capitalist.

 

[charminar_waale_ismail_bhai]

Those shameless screw driver specialist like TATA would dream of ADA Or another to design it,. This why Tats is shameless. Tata does not take risks as crony capitalist.

Ok Saar.
I anderstaand yu saar.
But this is how? You say saar, tats only screw ober drivers like you. Why you drive but?
You should ask tats why they scraw your titss. Why you no study article first?
You clarify many douts

 

[GMR]

I do not know how many people knows that terroristan/beggeristan somehow managed to get many more AWACS or AEWCs from the world over.
Surely IAF does not have any vision about future requirements as it was addicted foreign maals for a long time.
Need to work at WARP speed to get more of AWACS and AEWCs.

Fully agree.. zero vision by IAF & IA. no big ticket platform acquisions since last FY, while everything is overdue & many delayed by decades.

 

[bonito]

Those shameless screw driver specialist like TATA would dream of ADA Or another to design it,. This why Tats is shameless. Tata does not take risks as crony capitalist.

Govt after forcefully seizing tata airways could not run airways for 50 yrs and had to auction it back. You are calling Tata shameless. If I am Tata I would do anything for this govt to collapse for what they had done to me.

 

[Boomeranger]

Fully agree.. zero vision by IAF & IA. no big ticket platform acquisions since last FY, while everything is overdue & many delayed by decades.

Once India alliance comes to power many purchases for IAF starts then... SO, why not a few Saab planes also

 

[Sandeep]

I do not know how many people knows that terroristan/beggeristan somehow managed to get many more AWACS or AEWCs from the world over.
Surely IAF does not have any vision about future requirements as it was addicted foreign maals for a long time.
Need to work at WARP speed to get more of AWACS and AEWCs.

AWACS are mostly used when conducting Air Force operations beyond our border and as we don't want to conduct any foreign battles and wars the demand for AWACS is much lower. Pakistan only has a larger number of AWACS because they don't have the long range integrated radars that we do where we can pick up every aircraft movement in their country without needing a lot of AWACS anyway.

 

[Sandeep]

Once India alliance comes to power many purchases for IAF starts then... SO, why not a few Saab planes also

The India alliance is nothing more than a group of corrupt and incompetent people who will just commit scams and steal money from the poor. They are the biggest problem as to why our indigenous defence weapons, systems and capabilities are so poor than it could of been.

Also we can't buy any AWACS from SAAB as Pakistan already bought 10 from them and if we bought the exact same or similar AWACS it will not give us any advantage over them.

Currently we are focusing on our own indigenous AWACS program rather than paying billions and importing it from another country. Indigenous capabilities are what we need to focus on.

 

[Anant]

Once India alliance comes to power many purchases for IAF starts then... SO, why not a few Saab planes also

There you go campaigning for that bunch of corrupt fools and idiots again. This is not a political platform, so please keep such comments aside.

Oh, and if that so-called alliance did come to power, the Armed Forces would go back ten years in terms of arms purchases, simply due to the sheer levels of unnecessary bureaucracy and arguments that group would bring.

 

[Deepak Hegde]

Those shameless screw driver specialist like TATA would dream of ADA Or another to design it,. This why Tats is shameless. Tata does not take risks as crony capitalist.

Wow, if tatas are shameless, what are DPSU's? DPSU's have been black holes guzzling tax payer's money and delivering nothing compared to the investments. Still Consecutive Govt's have been pampering them instead of shutting down. At the same time the consecutive Govt's have been refusing to provide a level playing field to private players. Refusing to provide orders in-spite of developed products. Which sane private company will invest in R&D without having any assurance from the market? Think twice before calling the most respected company such names! By doing so, you are just displaying your ignorance and stupidity!!

 

[NSR]

AWACS are mostly used when conducting Air Force operations beyond our border and as we don't want to conduct any foreign battles and wars the demand for AWACS is much lower. Pakistan only has a larger number of AWACS because they don't have the long range integrated radars that we do where we can pick up every aircraft movement in their country without needing a lot of AWACS anyway.

One thing is for sure that terroristan Saab Erieye AWACS will scan and track up to 450 kms.

We surely need more AWACS and AEWCs and ISR signal aircrafts urgently to ward off enemy aircrafts approaching Indian borders.
If we do not locate them taking off and get ready then it will be too late when they come close and unleash their long range bombs.

 

[RalphRearden]

I think among all the 3 arms, IAF is the least efficient when it comes to procurement planning....some can say Army is worse but i give our army planners a discount since they have to plan for 1.3 million troops with varying requirements across different terrains and capabilities.

Now our IAF....be the number of bases, platforms, types of ammunition, ...everything is 10x less complicated than Army....

eg: all they had to do was an outright purchase of 500 BVRs outranging AMRAAMs in 2012 (Astra was nowhere in sight bk then) when PAF started procuring latest F-16s.....but no....these idts were busy asking for cluster bomb integration on Jaguars (about to retire in next 5-7 yrs).......nobody cares if the Russian ones were ineffective....having one integrated on Su-30 is a warning enough to F-16s that they will be outranged...and hence PAF would not have dared to respond for the fear of loosing 2-3 F-16s.

Now, same is this nuisance of having Apaches and fighting with Army......lol...idts cant focus on what they need ...Army Aviation Corp should be the one flying them cos they would need them for blowing up Pk/Chin tanks...instead IAF wanted Army to call them everytime in need and they would do them a favour

Another example.....the entire MRCA drama could have been long shut and over if they quietly bought 54 Rafales and another 120 odd Mig 35s in 2010...granted Mig 35s were subpar...but guess what, we needed planes to counter PAF and Mig 35s would have taken out anything and everything PAF had to throw at us...I also would like to have the expensive BMW/Audi.....despite getting 4 Fortuners in the same price...and because of me behaving like a spoilt insistent child, I continue to drive my Bolero...

....jokers of the highest orders....list goes on and on

 

[Ajath Shri]

Everything is fine , but adhering to timelines is more critical.

 

[Sandeep]

India needs to focus on developing our own indigenous AWACS systems and not spend billions on just importing them. Although our systems might not be perfect and give 360 degree coverage our new radars will increase the coverage than the current NETRA MK1 which just covers 240 degree.

Currently we will buy 6 NETRA MK1A AWACS based on a Embraer plane with a larger area coverage with a longer range than 500km and they will be a enhanced version with better and upgraded sensors, software, plane computer etc which will be ideal to use along the border but it also needs a better EW, SIGINT, COMINT, SATCOM, surveillance, tracking system capabilities which will help a lot.

The main project is the NETRA MK2 which will give us an even better system than the NETRA MK1 and MK1A. This will give about 300 degree coverage and it will include a air surveillance radar, forward looking AESA radar, ground radar, EO/IR, IFF, communication antenna and even better EW, ESM, SIGINT, COMINT, SATCOM, faster data link, upgraded software, more computer stations, surveillance, tracking, longer range and longer flight time etc. Hopefully after this model we can develop a circular radome on top which can give us a 360 degree air coverage.

 

[Rinku Pandey]

There you go campaigning for that bunch of corrupt fools and idiots again. This is not a political platform, so please keep such comments aside.

Oh, and if that so-called alliance did come to power, the Armed Forces would go back ten years in terms of arms purchases, simply due to the sheer levels of unnecessary bureaucracy and arguments that group would bring.

Haha like this govt has made India top notch.

 

[Rinku Pandey]

I think among all the 3 arms, IAF is the least efficient when it comes to procurement planning....some can say Army is worse but i give our army planners a discount since they have to plan for 1.3 million troops with varying requirements across different terrains and capabilities.

Now our IAF....be the number of bases, platforms, types of ammunition, ...everything is 10x less complicated than Army....

eg: all they had to do was an outright purchase of 500 BVRs outranging AMRAAMs in 2012 (Astra was nowhere in sight bk then) when PAF started procuring latest F-16s.....but no....these idts were busy asking for cluster bomb integration on Jaguars (about to retire in next 5-7 yrs).......nobody cares if the Russian ones were ineffective....having one integrated on Su-30 is a warning enough to F-16s that they will be outranged...and hence PAF would not have dared to respond for the fear of loosing 2-3 F-16s.

Now, same is this nuisance of having Apaches and fighting with Army......lol...idts cant focus on what they need ...Army Aviation Corp should be the one flying them cos they would need them for blowing up Pk/Chin tanks...instead IAF wanted Army to call them everytime in need and they would do them a favour

Another example.....the entire MRCA drama could have been long shut and over if they quietly bought 54 Rafales and another 120 odd Mig 35s in 2010...granted Mig 35s were subpar...but guess what, we needed planes to counter PAF and Mig 35s would have taken out anything and everything PAF had to throw at us...I also would like to have the expensive BMW/Audi.....despite getting 4 Fortuners in the same price...and because of me behaving like a spoilt insistent child, I continue to drive my Bolero...

....jokers of the highest orders....list goes on and on

When there is no budget to buy new platforms why blame Indian Airforce? Govt wants Indian Airforce to invest in Desi platforms which don't exist.

 

[Sandeep]

One thing is for sure that terroristan Saab Erieye AWACS will scan and track up to 450 kms.

We surely need more AWACS and AEWCs and ISR signal aircrafts urgently to ward off enemy aircrafts approaching Indian borders.
If we do not locate them taking off and get ready then it will be too late when they come close and unleash their long range bombs.

Our NETRA radar can scan and track up to 500km which is better. We need more AWACS but we need more indigenous AWACS. Currently we will develop another 6 upgraded NETRA MK1A and another 6 NETRA MK2. So we are making progress and we do have a plan so the number will increase.