DRDO's Project Virupaksha to Give Su-30MKI Cutting-Edge AESA Radar with Antenna Repositioner

DRDO has confirmed Project Virupaksha, an ambitious endeavor to modernize the Su-30MKI fighter jets with advanced Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radars. This upgrade is set to significantly bolster the fighter's capabilities, including enhanced air surveillance, air-to-ground targeting, and weapon control.

A key highlight of this project is the inclusion of an antenna repositioner, enabling the radar's antenna to be maneuvered in both elevation and azimuth planes. This will greatly expand the radar's field of view, enhancing its overall performance and versatility. The Laboratory for Electronics and Instrumentation (LRDE) is currently developing the Uttam Mk2 antenna with this repositioner capability.

The Virupaksha AESA radar represents a major advancement in India's radar technology. By replacing the existing mechanically steered antennas and high-power transmitters, the Su-30MKI will be equipped with a more agile and versatile radar system capable of tracking multiple targets simultaneously.

This upgrade is initially planned for the first lot of 84 Su-30MKIs due for Super-30 upgrades. The Virupaksha AESA radar, with its extended range, is anticipated to transform the Su-30MKI into a 'Mini-AWACS', significantly boosting its combat capabilities and making it a formidable asset for the Indian Air Force.

As Project Virupaksha progresses, it will be fascinating to observe the evolution of AESA radar and antenna repositioner technology, and their contribution to India's ongoing military modernization efforts.

 

[ABHIJIT APSINGIKAR]

Given the size of Su-30 MKI it should have been 1800 to 2400 but it is most likely 1200 to1400 TRMs Tejas MK1A has smaller nose cone compared to Tejas MK2 even Tejas MK1A which will have Uttam AESA Radar will have more TRMs than RBE2 which is integrated on Rafale

Not as simple. Indian TR modules are fairly large and ghough have managed to cut size significantly as compared to original Uttam, they are still fairly large. So although the space may be ghere due go relatively larger size it may not pack so many modules. Besides u need to.accohnt for the weight contributed by cooking system and more modules would.require cooking system which higher surface area to manage dispersion of heat.

 

[Tanishq Bafila]

84 MKIs in the first lot. Whats are the timelines for Virupaksha radar?

Uttam Mk1 is ready , Mk2 into development , Virupaksha is 3rd in line and then for AMCA..

No timelines have been given for the radars & upgrades, as these are block improvements..

 

[Mbappe]

Oh you mean the failed plane which couldn’t even clear the trials? No thanks. Not interested,

Our plane failed miserably all due to ancient tech and exorbitantly ridiculous high price, who will buy, yes we have to be ashamed of our inferior product still having ancient tech, their tech is great, may be that's why Swedes won Indian jet competition,

 

[ponton]

Our plane failed miserably all due to ancient tech and exorbitantly ridiculous high price, who will buy, yes we have to be ashamed of our inferior product still having ancient tech, their tech is great, may be that's why Swedes won Indian jet competition,

yes Swedes won, there is already murmur in HAL circles, also heard that Gripen’s will be made in bangalore and other branch.

 

[Akshat]

Our plane failed miserably all due to ancient tech and exorbitantly ridiculous high price, who will buy, yes we have to be ashamed of our inferior product still having ancient tech, their tech is great, may be that's why Swedes won Indian jet competition,

Swedes won an Indian jet competition? In which universe? In our’s only the French keep winning Indian jet competitions for well over 2 decades now. Amazing tech, super cheap prices and amazing ToT.

 

[ponton]

Swedes won an Indian jet competition? In which universe? In our’s only the French keep winning Indian jet competitions for well over 2 decades now. Amazing tech, super cheap prices and amazing ToT.

Earth and Sun, he is right, I too heard it.

 

[tipoo2]

Like an Elephant with a bell tied to it's neck that announces that it is coming, people will hear the bell from far away before the actual elephant shows up, Indian defense establishments drew a picture with Swashplate in their SU-30 ugrade announcing that SAAB Gripen-E is coming and it has already been preselected before the actual competition, poor French guys still think they are in the competition, they didn't realize that MRFA is just an eyewash, SAAB will defenitely offer Radar Swashplate tech as promised with HAL unlike French to not honor the promise, we are a professional company and we honor all our obligations, we SAAB hope that this TOT would be very useful for your Super Sukhoi upgrade and for all the the future jet programs.

The Su-30 already has a swashplate which they'll keep common. Moving from PESA to AESA just allows a much wider angle of band steering and is even more potent in combination with it.

 

[Akshat]

Earth and Sun, he is right, I too heard it.

😂😂😂

 

[desigandu]

Very likely north of 1000 easily.

F-35 ANAPG85 is rumored to have more than 3500 TRMs!

 

[desigandu]

Given the size of Su-30 MKI it should have been 1800 to 2400 but it is most likely 1200 to1400 TRMs Tejas MK1A has smaller nose cone compared to Tejas MK2 even Tejas MK1A which will have Uttam AESA Radar will have more TRMs than RBE2 which is integrated on Rafale

F-35 ANAPG85 is rumoured to have above 3500 TRMs! How?

 

[ponton]

😂😂😂

Laugh at yourself for wasting your time pitching for a failed product.

 

[Akshat]

Laugh at yourself for wasting your time pitching for a failed product.

Yeah, such a failed product that we keep buying them again and again. 😂😂

 

[ponton]

Yeah, such a failed product that we keep buying them again and again. 😂😂

yes Indians bought only 36, 10 years ago and didn’t buy one extra even after our ˈprezəˌdent literally fell on his knees and begged to buy more.

 

[Akshat]

yes Indians bought only 36, 10 years ago and didn’t buy one extra even after our ˈprezəˌdent literally fell on his knees and begged to buy more.

Yeah, that’s why we are currently negotiating for even more.

 

[ponton]

Yeah, that’s why we are currently negotiating for even more.

we are negotiating with which country, Indians already refused to buy them outright, now we need to try duping middle eastern Countries lying to them that our product is better than F22, dumb guys will believe and buy in hundreds, Indians are super smart, they won’t believe our lies.

 

[Akshat]

we are negotiating with which country, Indians already refused to buy them outright, now we need to try duping middle eastern Countries lying to them that our product is better than F22, dumb guys will believe and buy in hundreds, Indians are super smart, they won’t believe our lies.

You are getting fake news from Russia it seems. Indians love Rafale and can’t get enough of it. Such a wonderful product you guys made. Gripen is like a fly in front of it. Just amazing. Just amazing. No words to describe it.

 

[ponton]

You are getting fake news from Russia it seems. Indians love Rafale and can’t get enough of it. Such a wonderful product you guys made. Gripen is like a fly in front of it. Just amazing. Just amazing. No words to describe it.

Why would a fellow French like you get news from the Russians, I have enough friends in Dassault circles like you having friends in Macron’s household, on the contrary it seems Indians hate our Rafale’s so much so that they didn’t buy one extra also in spite of our ˈprezəˌdent falling down his knees crying and begging everytime he visited India, very hard hearted super smart Indians, so let’s try our luck with Middle east, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Maldives, Sri Lanka and Turkey, they will believe our lies.

 

[kurtwallis wallis]

60k crores for upgradation for 84 Su MKI's and 21K crores for AL31P engines. (950) i.e. 22 crore per engine. 3713 crores for 168 engines. 63713 crores approx. and may be more. 90 million dollars per jet. 70.3 million dollars per new Su 30mki by HAL and 42.15 million dollars per Su 30mki made in Russia. What is going on?

Thread 'HAL to Produce 12 Su-30MKI Fighters, But High Costs and Russian Reliance Raise Concerns'

Jul 12, 2024

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has received an order to manufacture 12 Su-30MKI multirole fighter jets for the Indian Air Force (IAF), bolstering the country's air defence capabilities. However, the deal highlights the ongoing challenge of achieving self-reliance in defence manufacturing.

The Su-30MKI, produced under license from Russia's United Aircraft Corporation, comes at a significant cost. A senior IAF official revealed that each HAL-built unit costs $70.3 million...

• RonitBisht
• Replies: 17
• Forum: Indian Air Force

New SU30MKI manufactured by HAL will costs IAF 120 millions usd per unit of jet manufactured now! After upgrades it becomes Super-SU35S jets...

 

[Ritesh]

Yeah, that’s why we are currently negotiating for even more.

a product that is repaired in 4 years, what a bad quality, this explains why we didn’t add even one more after 36, poor IAF guys are grappling day in day out with the poor quality product.

 

[Akshat]

a product that is repaired in 4 years, what a bad quality, this explains why we didn’t add even one more after 36, poor IAF guys are grappling day in day out with the poor quality product.

A product that is always L1 and clears all trials and is deployed everywhere. That is why we are buying more and more. IAF just loves it and uses it day in and day out.

 

[Akshat]

Why would a fellow French like you get news from the Russians, I have enough friends in Dassault circles like you having friends in Macron’s household, on the contrary it seems Indians hate our Rafale’s so much so that they didn’t buy one extra also in spite of our ˈprezəˌdent falling down his knees crying and begging everytime he visited India, very hard hearted super smart Indians, so let’s try our luck with Middle east, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Maldives, Sri Lanka and Turkey, they will believe our lies.

Why would a French friend like you watch fake Russian news? I have friends in GoI and they tell me they just love Rafale and negotiating for 26 more right now, and want 114 more. Indians are indeed super smart and won’t buy anything but Rafale. Turkey, Bangladesh, Middle East and others will follow us as well with time. We love our French friends. Just amazing people.

 

[Ajeesh]

Why would a French friend like you watch fake Russian news? I have friends in GoI and they tell me they just love Rafale and negotiating for 26 more right now, and want 114 more. Indians are indeed super smart and won’t buy anything but Rafale. Turkey, Bangladesh, Middle East and others will follow us as well with time. We love our French friends. Just amazing people.

Do you think French news media is hacked by the Russians, may be you are in Ukraine and watching the wrong news.

 

[Akshat]

yes we are are buying more from different Countries, L1 can become L0 and it already is.

Even the different country is France. They have an offer even better than earlier and became L0 from L1. Amazing guys. Amazing plane.

 

[Ajeesh]

A product that is always L1 and clears all trials and is deployed everywhere. That is why we are buying more and more. IAF just loves it and uses it day in and day out.

yes we are are buying more from different Countries, L1 can become L0 and it already is.

 

[Akshat]

Do you think French news media is hacked by the Russians, may be you are in Ukraine and watching the wrong news.

I am in India but it seems you are in China. Hence watching such anti Indian news.

 

[Ritesh]

A product that is always L1 and clears all trials and is deployed everywhere. That is why we are buying more and more. IAF just loves it and uses it day in and day out.

poor quality product should have been L infinity in the first place, shoddy workmanship.

 

[Wunderbar]

Oh you mean the failed plane which couldn’t even clear the trials? No thanks. Not interested,

Every fighter jet other than Rafale has a chance in MRFA, EF-Typhoon which is the fastest MWF fighter fas a great chance -and so as F15, F21 and Gripen-E.

 

[ramdas]

What is the timeline of this project in 2050? Why waste taxpayers' money like this? By that time either Sukhoi will be crashing like MIG21 or technology will have become obsolete.

 

[aks2820]

Oh cheese DRDO back to its antics doing all sorts of PR stunts, reading through the fancy title "Repositioner", had me thinking what possibly could it be. Turns out its a mechanical steerable antenna mount. Would have been far better if they developed a swashplate similar to pone used in Gripen, rather than a hydraulically or electrically actuated plate to mount antenna as atleast it would have saved weight.

What's the difference