Foliage penetrating radars for IAF

Sridhar

House keeper
Senior Member
Joined
Feb 16, 2009
Messages
3,474
Likes
1,061
Country flag
IAF is now planning to acquire foliage penetrating radars to deploy in Maoist-hit areas under thick forest cover. "Technology is the key to solving this (Maoist) problem"¦
the IAF is in the process of acquiring sophisticated equipment for better surveillance capability in thick forests," Air Chief Marshal NAK Browne said here on Wednesday

Chhattisgarh attack Live: Air Force to up surveillance in Naxal areas - Firstpost
 

Sridhar

House keeper
Senior Member
Joined
Feb 16, 2009
Messages
3,474
Likes
1,061
Country flag
OLD news about evaluation


In the new system being evaluated, a Saab CARABAS radar, fitted in a Dhruv helicopter, does an aerial scan of the area in which security forces will be operating. The CARABAS radar is specially designed to detect metallic components of an IED, even when it is buried 5-6 metres below the ground. A computer quickly compares the image of each flight with the images of the previous flight over that area; any new metallic objects are highlighted, and their exact location mapped. Armed with that information, a bomb disposal team is sent to defuse the IED harmlessly.

Best of all, the exceptionally low frequency waves from the CARABAS radar ignores vegetation, reflecting only off man-made objects. This is especially useful in jungle terrain, where the dense foliage provides both visual and electro-magnetic cover. Naxal IED tactics involve burying IEDs several feet deep, sometimes under tarmac roads; such a system would detect even the deep-buried IEDs, which conventional, hand-held scanners, and even sniffer dogs, often cannot pick up.

"We have provided a radar at the request of the DRDO", says Inderjit Sial, the India head of Saab International India AB. "The DRDO will integrate it on the Dhruv ALH and then evaluation trials will be conducted. There is also a lighter version of the radar which can be flown on a UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle)."

The helicopter-mounted CARABAS radar weighs about 150 kg. The smaller version of the radar, which has been developed for UAVs, weighs just 50 kg.

Saab believes that this surveillance platform has a very high potential in India. The company has indicated that, if India chooses to deploy the CARABAS/Dhruv platform, Saab would set up its global manufacturing hub for the radar in India.

The DRDO, is carefully evaluating Saab's offer. Confirming to Business Standard that it is evaluating a foreign foliage penetration radar, the DRDO spokesperson stated, "We are seeking foreign collaboration in this field. Talks are actively on"¦ but we have not yet made a final decision."

A key challenge the DRDO faces in integrating the CARABAS low-frequency radar on a UAV, or on the Dhruv helicopter, is the unusual shape and large size of the radar antennae, which look like two long poles. A place on the flying platform will have to be found for these antennae.
Broadsword: Helicopter-mounted radar to tackle Naxal IEDs
 

sayareakd

Mod
Joined
Feb 17, 2009
Messages
17,734
Likes
18,951
Country flag
a Saab CARABAS radar, fitted in a Dhruv helicopter, does an aerial scan of the area in which security forces will be operating. The CARABAS radar is specially designed to detect metallic components of an IED, even when it is buried 5-6 metres below the ground. A computer quickly compares the image of each flight with the images of the previous flight over that area; any new metallic objects are highlighted, and their exact location mapped. Armed with that information, a bomb disposal team is sent to defuse the IED harmlessly.
well this is great system, specially for IEDs.
 

TrueSpirit

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 17, 2009
Messages
1,893
Likes
841
No radar technology would ever compensate for complete lack of "reliable HUMINT" on the ground.

Regarding Radars, IAI provided radars mounted on our UCAV's could have performed, had they been appropriately modified for this type of terrain. I saw a link to that effect; would share that shortly.
 

sob

Mod
Joined
May 4, 2009
Messages
6,425
Likes
3,805
Country flag
would not an IR device be more effective.
 

W.G.Ewald

Defence Professionals/ DFI member of 2
Professional
Joined
Sep 28, 2011
Messages
14,139
Likes
8,594

sayareakd

Mod
Joined
Feb 17, 2009
Messages
17,734
Likes
18,951
Country flag
can we have satellite using that tech, all people had to do is download the latest image in their area specially for land mines and even to identify ambush. This will be helpful at the time of war with our Pakistan and China as this will show their hidden missile TEL, we will then send our fighter to take them out or even our artillery and missiles to take them out.


So IMHO i think 100% funding should be given to this project to get satellites in orbit with this tech.
 

W.G.Ewald

Defence Professionals/ DFI member of 2
Professional
Joined
Sep 28, 2011
Messages
14,139
Likes
8,594
can we have satellite using that tech, all people had to do is download the latest image in their area specially for land mines and even to identify ambush. This will be helpful at the time of war with our Pakistan and China as this will show their hidden missile TEL, we will then send our fighter to take them out or even our artillery and missiles to take them out.


So IMHO i think 100% funding should be given to this project to get satellites in orbit with this tech.
What is the resolution of satellite radars compared to airborne systems? What is the capability of India's satellites for radar?
 

ladder

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 28, 2013
Messages
7,255
Likes
12,207
Country flag
DARPA-FORESTER

DARPA FORESTER - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

http://www.srcinc.com/uploadedFiles/src/what-we-do/62-FORESTER.pdf

This can also be useful but Uncle Sam is not ready to share this tech with us.
"The United States of America has not responded favourably to Defence Research and Development Organisation's (DRDO) requests for an insight into acclaimed Forester Foliage Penetration Radar," S Varadarajan, Director, Electronics and Radar Development Establishment (LRDE) said.
'India's radar technology on a par with counterparts' - The New Indian Express
 

Latest Replies

Global Defence

New threads

Articles

Top