In a major boost to indigenous defence equipment development, Astra Microwave has received an order of Rs 2,205 crore from the state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). The firm has received orders for 122 Active Antenna Array Unit (AAAU) and 121 Interface Frames for the Uttam Radar. The Uttam radar is an indigenously developed Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) Radar, slated to be deployed on the second tranche of the Tejas Mk-1A fighters. The indigenously developed Tejas Mk-1A fighter aircraft has been ordered in two batches, with 83 being ordered in the first batch and 97 ordered in the second batch. 40 other Tejas have also been ordered by the IAF in the Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) and Final Operational Clearance (FOC) configuration. These initial fighter aircraft serve with the 45 (Flying Daggers) squadron and the 18 (Flying Bullets) squadron.Uttam is a solid-state Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) based Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, developed by DRDO’s Electronics and Radar Development Establishment. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is the lead integrator, while Bharat Electronics supplies major subsystems. The radar employs GaAs Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuits (MMICs) and features liquid cooling with quad-band modules that can be stacked for larger configurations. The Uttam Mk-1 houses 912 transmit/receive modules, offering a detection range of around 150km against tactical targets. It supports different operational modes across air-to-air, air-to-ground and maritime roles. This includes synthetic aperture radar imaging, ground moving target indication, and raid assessment.The initial 83 Tejas Mk-1A aircraft to be delivered to the IAF by HAL, will sport the Israeli Aerospace Industries’ EL/M-2052 radar. The same radar also equips the Jaguar DARIN-III aircraft of the IAF. While the IOC and the FOC variants of the Tejas are equipped with the less capable EL/M-2032 radar.In contemporary air combat, radar has become the key sensor, enabling fighter aircraft to detect, track and respond to increasingly complex aerial threats. Modern adversaries employ stealthy fifth-generation fighters with a very small Radar Cross Section (RCS), hypersonic missiles and swarms of unmanned aerial vehicles, all designed to compress reaction times of aerial defences. Electronic warfare systems further complicate the battlespace by disrupting and deceiving sensors, placing the fighter and its radar at the forefront of threat detection and response.The radar, integrated with electronic support measures and secure data links, builds a coherent air picture that allows the fighter pilot to act in a more effective manner. Modern fighter radars extend their utility by mapping terrain, guide precision weapons and tracking moving ground targets. This fusion of radar, electronic warfare and communication systems translates into real-time situational awareness. This integration provides certainty in decision-making.
