Uttam, the state-of-the-art Active Electronically Scanned Array Radar (AESAR), developed by a Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) lab in Bengaluru originally for Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas, is now ready for export.
Aside from this, DRDO is also working on other electronics that are export worthy, DRDO director-general (electronics & communication system) BK Das said. The development is in line with the Centre’s push for not just self-reliance in defence but also enhancing exports.
According to DRDO, Uttam can track multiple targets at a time and also take hi-resolution pictures of enemy targets to aid in reconnaissance missions. Uttam is a fully electronically scanned agile beam radar which uses a transmit-or-receive module and has features that allow the aircraft to boast of low probability of intercept and non-cooperative target recognition.
It also provides better situational awareness of the modern battlefield scenario and is capable of tracking multiple targets with high accuracy suitable for firing missiles and has interleaved air-to-air, air-to-ground and air-to-sea modes for all terrain solution, according to Electronics & Radar Development Establishment, the Bengaluru-based lab which has developed the radar.
Sanctioned in 2012, the project team included people with the experience of making the main radar on the indigenous Airborne early Warning And Control System – Netra – and the Maritime Patrol radar. While stating that DRDO was in talks for export of Uttam, Das did not elaborate on the countries or customers that had shown interest.
