How Indian-Made GaN AESA Radar Could Unlock Su-57 Jet's Full Potential, Surpassing Current Russian Capabilities

India's advancements in radar technology could significantly enhance the capabilities of Russia's Su-57 fifth-generation stealth fighter jet, should India decide to collaborate on the project.

A senior Indian Air Force (IAF) official recently disclosed details of a Russian proposal involving the transfer of technology for the Su-57, with a focus on India's superior radar systems.

The key to this potential upgrade lies in India's development of Gallium Nitride (GaN)-based Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radars. These systems offer a considerable performance advantage over the older Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) technology currently used in many radar systems.

According to the IAF official, India has made substantial progress in GaN-based AESA radar technology, exceeding Russia's current capabilities. GaN offers improved efficiency, power, heat management, and detection range, making it essential for advanced radar systems.

Specifically, India's Uttam GaN AESA radar, currently under development by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) program, is being considered as a potential upgrade for the Su-57.

While the Su-57's current N036 Byelka radar, an X-band AESA radar, is an improvement over older designs, it reportedly still relies on GaAs technology.

Sources indicate that the N036 contains 1,514 transmit/receive modules. In contrast, the Uttam radar utilizes GaN technology and features over 1,400 transmit/receive modules, granting it enhanced range, resolution, and the ability to track multiple targets simultaneously.

The integration of the Indian-made Uttam radar into the Su-57 is presented as a way to significantly boost the aircraft's combat capabilities. This aligns with India's broader strategy of incorporating domestically produced technology into its defense systems. The IAF Official stated that the Uttam GaN AESA radar could be a excellent fit on the Su-57.

Russia's proposal for Su-57 includes provisions for a technology transfer, potentially allowing India to integrate its own systems, like the Uttam radar. The IAF official explained that they have made better progress than Russia in some areas, including radar technology, and the Russian proposal for technology transfer could mean incorporating Indian systems on the Russian jet.

Beyond the Su-57, adopting the Uttam radar would offer the IAF logistical and economic advantages. Because the Uttam is also planned for use in future variants of the Tejas, the AMCA, and potentially upgraded Su-30MKIs and Mirage-2000s, integrating it into the Su-57 would standardize radar systems across a significant portion of the IAF's fleet. This commonality could simplify maintenance, training, and overall logistics.

Although Russia has formally offered the Su-57 to India, the IAF is still carefully considering its options. The official confirmed the offer but stated that the IAF is continuing its evaluation process. This evaluation likely involves a comprehensive review of the IAF's needs for a fifth-generation fighter, weighing the Su-57 against other options, such as the American F-35, or potentially speeding up the AMCA program with international partners.

 

[P2S2]

Russia has its traditional advantage not only as being a trusted partner from the start but increasingly as being physically accessible across borders of two adjacent regions. The North and the South are heading for consolidation. The next step will be for a merger of the North South to become a strong centre for the world. Eventually the world is going to be united in purpose.

 

[Leored]

So time to buy su57 why are we waiting. F35 is already out of our scope now I believe. We should take production line with export options also. Let AMCA come later stage.

 

[P2S2]

So time to buy su57 why are we waiting. F35 is already out of our scope now I believe. We should take production line with export options also. Let AMCA come later stage.

Nothing can be decided until signatures are procured. Only offers have been made. Tejas are rolling off the production lines in the meantime. There's a immediate need to be fulfilled too and F35s are strongest contender.

 

[T54]

Set up a production line for 15Squns SU-57 M with IZ-30 engine . Get first 2 built in Russia and progressive assembly of balance in India including the engine . Superior Avionics computer weapons be integrated to make the fighter contemporary for next 40 years including replacing Chinese Electronics and parts used if any . Similarly 8 Squns of F-35 be purchased together with 6 squns of Rafale F-5 to field 30 high end Squns and balance 30 be made up of LCA ml, 1,1A ,2 and AMCA to field 60 squns by 2040

 

[Jishnu]

So time to buy su57 why are we waiting. F35 is already out of our scope now I believe. We should take production line with export options also. Let AMCA come later stage.

Yes! Ex-IAF Marshal Praphul Bakshi sir himself said a Twinjet is better than the Monojet for safety reasons

 

[Jishnu]

Nothing can be decided until signatures are procured. Only offers have been made. Tejas are rolling off the production lines in the meantime. There's a immediate need to be fulfilled too and F35s are strongest contender.

Nah not really as I said. We need Freedom, Safety and Cost Savings, in which Su-57 wins. Further Stealthification can be done in India with our Uttam/Virupaksha Radars with our freedom that we get

 

[Surfer]

Seems like still drooling looking at the F-35. It was clearly told what you would get instead. There is a difference between a still-being-developed GaN radar and an already-developed GaAs radar.

 

[sanket]

I have already said it, with Virupaksha GaN-based AESA radar coupled with GANDIV BVR & Russian hypersonic missiles, plus Brahmos-NG, it would be a perfect fighter jet for the IAF. Dassault has to pull up its socks.

Until the Su-57 offer, it was the front runner, & Dassault was arrogant about starting a local final assembly line, plus sharing ToT with autonomy of integrating sensors & weapons, which is exactly the opposite of the Su-57 offer. That's why I have always said the Su-57 is a dark horse.

The F-35 will not be produced in Bharat, so if Dassault misses the opportunity, the Su-57 will grab it with both hands. The last even Rafale F4 version too lacks a GaN-based AESA radar, which Dassault is offering under MRFA.

Russian fighter jets are open architecture for the IAF, whether it is the MIG-29 or Su-30 MKI. It is going to be easy in the future too in upgrading the fighter jet without OEM permission. Till date, the Su-30 MKI has been used as a test bed for testing all the weapons developed indigenously, unlike the Mirage 2000, which hasn't been or hasn't even integrated any third-party weapon.

 

[Rudra]

There was another radar from Indian company which was better than Vitupaksha .. any news?

 

[Bullu]

While F-35 is built for offensive roles, Su-57 is more suitable for a defensive roles. Why not go for combination of both, say 10 squadrons each of F-35 and Su-57? The F-35's can be used for Pakistan and the Su-57's for China (with Himalaya as a potent deterrent for any arial aggression from China). These two clubbed with S-400, Tejas Mk-II and AMCA can be a lethal combination for India.

 

[Surfer]

There was another radar from Indian company which was better than Vitupaksha .. any news?

UTTAM

 

[coke]

UTTAM

That was Hawk radar, maybe from VEM or someone else.

 

[Surfer]

That was Hawk radar, maybe from VEM or someone else.

Hawk-2700, made by a Chennai based private company named Data Patterns.

 

[Sparkle Studio]

Both the F-35 & Su-57 are a distraction, like shiny new toys, but we must get the Tejas Mk2 & AMCA in the air ASAP. Beg, borrow, or steal, but we need to master turbojet engine technology. Russia, in a war-time economy under sanctions, is not going to be our first choice to partner with for developing next-generation technology. Japan or Europe are the only avenues for joint development going forward.

 

[Dipesh Debnath]

There was another radar from Indian company which was better than Vitupaksha .. any news?

If we see the two radars visually, Virupaksha seems to be an early version, whereas Uttam looks like a complete product with extra features, like eight dipoles.

 

[Aayush Pratap]

No more junk please, don't need this Su-57 just so we can keep Sukhoi's production lines alive.