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.

 

[Kira]

How many TRMs?

Very likely north of 1000 easily.

 

[sanket]

Functionally same but operationally much different..The way it works

Nothing like that pl share source

 

[sanket]

How many TRMs?

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

 

[ABHIJIT APSINGIKAR]

Nothing like that pl share source

O dear! Look it up will u the way the Gripen Swashplate functions. There must be several videos with regards to it. Knowing DRDO they would probably try to put an actuated mechanically steered plate that is either hydraulic driven or electric driven.

Some what same concept is used for the Spanish single stroke Innengine

 

[Sandeep]

It is Not GaN based AESA Radar for Super sukhoi ..............???

Yes it is as the MK2 version uses GaN instead of the MK1 version which used Gallium arsenide.

 

[Sandeep]

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

There is a big difference in the technology, equipment and capabilities between the Sukhoi 30 in Russia and India. You can’t compare the two based on price alone. The costs are higher because the Indian upgrade is better and most of the technology has been developed indigenously.

 

[sanket]

O dear! Look it up will u the way the Gripen Swashplate functions. There must be several videos with regards to it. Knowing DRDO they would probably try to put an actuated mechanically steered plate that is either hydraulic driven or electric driven.

Some what same concept is used for the Spanish single stroke Innengine

Only Eurofighter Jet have similar Radar what our DRDO have developed , Only two nation at the moments all are ur assumption in dreams Nothing else

 

[abhinav srivastava]

I guess the whole super Sukhoi Upgrade is in a planned phase , not in one go phase..

I believe by 2028 the first lot of Sukhois will be upgraded into super Sukhois

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

 

[Sandeep]

These critical features need to be implemented as soon as possible. We have to start the super Sukhoi upgrade now as even upgrading 84 jets will take some time and hopefully it doesn’t take about 10 years or more to upgrade it.

 

[ABHIJIT APSINGIKAR]

Only Eurofighter Jet have similar Radar what our DRDO have developed , Only two nation at the moments all are ur assumption in dreams Nothing else

Did I ever mention Eurofighter sunshine? No. I did say Swashplate like Gripen.

Besides if u are going to compare the steering mechanism with Eurofighter, might as well compare the excellent thrust of Weight ratio of the platform and its engines as well. Besides while at it might be best to compare the high density electronic packaging capabilities as well. Then u may not like the answer. DRDO is very new to the field of electronics fabrication and as such the T/R Modules so it would also be lot larger as compared to either US, China, Japan, Israel and UK.

Seems u did not bother to see how a swash plate works for u wont have said such a thing so casually. Oh well. I suggest u more explicitly seek the GIF animation of the swashplate mechanism before commenting.

 

[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?