The Defence Ministry on Thursday signed two contracts with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), at a complete price of over ₹3,700 crore for ‘Arudhra’ Medium Power Radars (MPR) and Radar Warning Receivers for the Indian Air Force (IAF).
The ₹2,800-crore contract for Arudhra radars has been indigenously designed and developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and shall be manufactured by Bharat Electronics Limited.
“Its successful trials have already been conducted by the IAF. It is a 4D multi-function phased array radar with electronic steering in both azimuth and elevation for surveillance, detection and tracking of aerial targets,” a Ministry assertion mentioned. The system would have goal identification primarily based on interrogations from co-located Identification Friend or Foe system, it said.
The second contract pertains to 129 DR-118 Radar Warning Receivers at a value of ₹950 crore. “The DR-118 Radar Warning Receiver will considerably enhance the Electronic Warfare capabilities of Su-30 MKI aircraft,” the assertion mentioned.
Stating that majority of sub-assemblies and components can be sourced from indigenous producers, the assertion added, “It will generate employment of approx. two lakh man-days over a period of three and half years.”
