DRDO to Develop Indigenous Liquid Cooling System of Airborne Radars to Enhance Performance of Tejas and AMCA Jets

In a move to bolster the performance of its advanced fighter aircraft, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is set to develop an indigenous liquid cooling system for airborne radars. This technology is crucial for optimizing the functionality and longevity of powerful radar systems in aircraft like the Tejas and the upcoming AMCA.

Modern combat aircraft rely heavily on airborne radars for real-time situational awareness, target tracking, and acquisition. However, these radars generate substantial heat due to the high-power electronic components they utilize. Without efficient heat dissipation, radar performance can be significantly compromised, and sensitive equipment may suffer damage.

Liquid cooling systems offer superior heat dissipation compared to traditional air cooling methods. This ensures greater reliability, improved radar efficiency, and allows for continuous operation without the risk of overheating, which is particularly vital during extended missions.


The new cooling system will be compatible with a range of aircraft, including the Tejas Mk1A, Tejas Mk2, and the AMCA. It will also be adaptable for other domestic and potentially foreign platforms, opening avenues for technology export.

The DRDO's system is expected to incorporate several advanced features:

• Enhanced Thermal Conductivity: The liquid coolant will be designed for rapid heat transfer, efficiently drawing heat away from critical radar components.
• High-Flow Rate Coolant Pumps: These pumps will ensure continuous coolant circulation to effectively manage the heat generated by powerful AESA radars.
• Compact, Lightweight Design: Minimizing weight and size is crucial for airborne applications, and the system will be designed accordingly to avoid impacting aircraft performance.
• Increased Reliability and Low Maintenance: The system will be built for durability and require minimal upkeep, ensuring long-term reliability and operational readiness.

This initiative aligns with India's ongoing efforts to achieve self-reliance in defence technology. By developing indigenous systems, the DRDO aims to create robust, tailored solutions for the Indian Air Force (IAF), reducing dependence on foreign suppliers and strengthening national defence capabilities.

 

[Muthu.Kumar]

DRDO develops nuts, DRDO develops bolts, BUT NOT KAVERI, NEVER KAVERI AT ALLLLL.

 

[sanket]

All doubt are cleared for those Naysayers who were having doubt about Indigenous Fighter jet proects , Good Initiative by DRDO, with evry update of Tech developing for Upcoming Fighter jets Bharat is Increasing Indigenous content & & also becoming Atmanirbhar also opportunity for earning foreign exchange too.

 

[Radha Ramanan]

The LCA AESA radar has a liquid cooling system from isreal. we have not been able to make it so far in India, though a lot of effort is being put to make a desi one. Israel did a lot of hand holding like a consultant for the tejas radar, both the older ones on the basic LCA and the aesa ones for the lca MK1A series. In fact the radar on the basic LCA was a mix of Isreali el-2032 planar radar componnents and desi antenna.
It was a part of the deal wherin isreal was to supply AESA radars for the inital lot of el-2052 radars along with the derby missiles for the LCA k1A ,and then india was supposed to develop and supply the remaining desi Uttam AESA radars.
There is team of isreali experts in India helping us to integrate the el-2052 radar on to the LCA MK1A. As of now its still not integrated fully and work is on.

 

[Muthu.Kumar]

All doubt are cleared for those Naysayers who were having doubt about Indigenous Fighter jet proects , Good Initiative by DRDO, with evry update of Tech developing for Upcoming Fighter jets Bharat is Increasing Indigenous content & & also becoming Atmanirbhar also opportunity for earning foreign exchange too.

Making nuts and bolts for Tejas is all well and good. But what about the engine - the crucial part ? Why can't they make it ? Why can't they acquire the necessary expertise even after 30-40 years ? Why should India sit firmly on the shoulders of Russia, France and USA for hi-tech and high end products ?