DRDO develops low-level radar for mountains

[Twinblade]

DRDO develops low-level radar for mountains
Vijay Mohan/TNS

Chandigarh, August 25
The country's air defence capability is expected to get a fillip, especially in the mountainous regions with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) developing a new light-weight, low-level radar (LLR).

The system has been designed to detect low flying aerial threats like aircraft, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles (UAVs) against the background of intense mountain clutter. DRDO scientists have claimed that the radar has gone through extensive user trials and evaluation at electronic warfare ranges as well as in high altitude areas and the system has been recommended for induction in the services.

According to some earlier reports, there are large gaps in India's air defence network, due to both, lack of adequate surveillance assets as well as the growing obsolescence of the existing radar network and associated anti-aircraft weapon systems. Even Parliament's Standing Committee on Defence has adversely commented on the nation's air defence capability.

The LLR come in the wake of another portable, three-dimensional (3-D) low-level radar developed indigenously for deployment in diverse terrains like mountains, snow-bound high altitude areas, deserts, urban high rise buildings and the plains. Serial production of this radar for the IAF has already commenced. The 3-D radar which can also be used for detecting very small UAVs, air space surveillance in urban areas for VVIPs and large critical installations, uses active aperture technology and is stated to be the first of its kind in the world.

The LLR is a quadripod mounted fully outdoor shelter-less equipment, rugged enough to operate in harsh environment, extreme temperatures extremes and in strong windy conditions. It can be segmented into several parts for transportation by men, mules or helicopter, and can be assembled in about 10 minutes.

Miniaturisation and low power technologies have been used to a great extent and the radar also has an identify friend and foe system. Hostile targets that are identified by the operator can be designated to weapon sites located in the proximity.

Thereafter, target updates are sent continuously over line or radio and presented on a hand-held target data receiver at these locations. Shoulder fired missiles can be aimed at the intruding aircraft from these weapon sites.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2013/20130826/nation.htm#15

The radar being talked about here is Bharani Low Level Lightweight Radar (LLLR). It is a 2D L-Band radar that will fill gaps in areas without Radar coverage. The 3D LLR is known as Aslesha. 21 Aslesha and 46 Bharani radars would be delivered to the IAF by 2016.

About Bharani Radar:-

Low-level Lightweight Radar
The LLLR has been developed to protect valuable assets in the mountainous regions against aerial threats. It is a quadripod mounted fully outdoor shelterless equipment, rugged enough to operate in harsh environment, temperature extremes, and in strong windy conditions. The main constituents of the radar are: composite antenna comprising primary radar antenna and secondary surveillance radar antenna; pedestal to rotate the antenna, a quadripod, and conduction cooled central unit that houses most of the electronics and remote Commander's Display Unit
(CDU).
The radar head is connected to the CDU through a two-wire extendable WD field cable. The radar operates on prime-power fed from a rugged generator to a UPS that provides 28 V DC supply to the system. In case of failure of generator, the UPS automatically switches to a rechargeable lithium-ion battery that can support the system for more than 4 h.
LLLR uses low peak power wide band coded waveforms for transmission and employs sophisticated processing algorithms to suppress ground/weather clutter, and can survive in hostile jamming environment. The basic radio frequency (RF) source and complex modulated waveform is digitally synthesised and suitably up-converted for transmission. The processing on receive comprises of digital pulse compression, Doppler filter bank and adaptive CFAR thresholding followed by binary integration over the dwell. The system has fine resolution in range permitting precise detection of the elements of formation flights. Miniaturisation and low power technologies have been used to a great extent. The entire signal processor of LLLR has been realised in a single multi-layer printed circuit board using FPGA technology for a highly integrated and low power implementation. The identify friend or foe (IFF) electronics is also highly compact. The communication from radar head to remote CDU is based on ISDN technology.
The system provides excellent detection of low flying aerial threats like aircraft, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles (UAVs) against the background of intense mountain clutter. The radar has an integral IFF Mk XI with Mode-S capability to provide IFF. Hostile targets that are identified by the operator can be designated to weapon sites located in the proximity. Thereafter, target updates are sent continuously over line or radio and presented on a hand-held target data receiver (TDR) at these locations. Shoulder fired missiles can be aimed from these weapon sites against the intruding threats at an appropriate moment.
LLLR is a portable radar. The speciality of the radar is its mechanical engineering, which permits segmenting the system into easily portable loads that can be carried by men or mules over mountainous terrain. The radar can also be transported as under-slung load by helicopter. The system comprises about 16 sub assemblies or modules that are carried in roto-mould rugged transit cases and can be rapidly assembled and deployed in just 10 min. The antenna back-up structure, boom, horn and quadripod are all made up of carbon composites. The antenna reflector is made up of horizontal strips placed with sufficient intermediate gap to offer low resistance to wind load.
The radar has gone through extensive user trials and evaluation at EW range and at high altitudes. The system has been recommended for introduction into the Service.

http://drdo.gov.in/drdo/pub/techfocus/2013/TF_April_2013_WEB.pdf

The Bharani radar had passed trials last year and was approved for production.

 

[cobra commando]

Bharani short-range radar during high-altitude trials.
(Pic source: Tarmak007)

 

[Kunal Biswas]

Some detail pictures i took during Defexpo 2012 >>

 

[Kunal Biswas]

The above radar - LLLR is the Bharani. This has been developed for the Army by LRDE in partnership with BEL who is the manufacturer. It is a 2D system - provides bearing and velocity, but not height. Its a man portable system, to be deployed in mountainous terrain etc and to be used against mostly low flying aircraft attempting to use the valleys and terrain features to catch the Army by surprise. The radar has cleared trials and is under order by the Army, with 16 radars.

The Aslesha (LRDE of the DRDO names its radars after nakshatra) is the 3D "version" of the Bharani. In reality though, while some subsystems are common, its a pretty different system, and is classified as a LLLWR by the IAF. 21 of these are on order by the Indian Air Force. Refer:

2012: Radar Power
Radar power
Range of Radars (2009)
Range of radars
Indian Eye in the Sky (2012)
Indian eye in the sky

The LRDE is also developing newer variants of the radars mentioned above. Particular projects of note in the coming years will be the AESA versions of the LLTR and the Medium Power Radar. While the former will take over from Rohini, the latter will replace the Israeli imports with a local radar. The IAF has indented for 15 Israeli and 8 Indian MPR so far.

---------------------------

Shared by @Archer

 

[Jagdish58]

Good development , DRDO should be given free hand by MOD to use Indian PVT industry to the Max this will help our defence industry to grow many fold

but is there a sensible defence minister coming next is the big question

 

[W.G.Ewald]

Is this type of radar operated by signal or military intelligence specialists in the Indian Army?

 

[indiatester]

The above radar - LLLR is the Bharani. This has been developed for the Army by LRDE in partnership with BEL who is the manufacturer. It is a 2D system - provides bearing and velocity, but not height. Its a man portable system, to be deployed in mountainous terrain etc and to be used against mostly low flying aircraft attempting to use the valleys and terrain features to catch the Army by surprise. The radar has cleared trials and is under order by the Army, with 16 radars.

The Aslesha (LRDE of the DRDO names its radars after nakshatra) is the 3D "version" of the Bharani. In reality though, while some subsystems are common, its a pretty different system, and is classified as a LLLWR by the IAF. 21 of these are on order by the Indian Air Force. Refer:

2012: Radar Power
Radar power
Range of Radars (2009)
Range of radars
Indian Eye in the Sky (2012)
Indian eye in the sky

The LRDE is also developing newer variants of the radars mentioned above. Particular projects of note in the coming years will be the AESA versions of the LLTR and the Medium Power Radar. While the former will take over from Rohini, the latter will replace the Israeli imports with a local radar. The IAF has indented for 15 Israeli and 8 Indian MPR so far.

---------------------------

Shared by @Archer

Are they more useful against helicopters?

 

[Kunal Biswas]

In that specific terrain ( Mountain ) they are useful against helicopters to fighter jets flying low to escape long range radars ..

Are they more useful against helicopters?

 

[indiatester]

In that specific terrain ( Mountain ) they are useful against helicopters to fighter jets flying low to escape long range radars ..

While we are on the topic, what is the level of networking of the long range radars in general?
We can get a pretty impressive view and coverage if we are able to network these low level radars also into such a system.

 

[sayareakd]

While we are on the topic, what is the level of networking of the long range radars in general?
We can get a pretty impressive view and coverage if we are able to network these low level radars also into such a system.

all the civilian and military radar data are network into one to get bigger picture.

 

[indiatester]

all the civilian and military radar data are network into one to get bigger picture.

Any public source on that?

 

[sayareakd]

Any public source on that?

Subsequent integration with other services networks and civil radars will provide an integrated Air Situation Picture to operators to carry out AD role.

Livefist: IAF's AFNET NCW Backbone Goes Live Next Week

 

[Kunal Biswas]

There is a net-centric system operational within IA ..

I cannot say about specifics, but in general its Command, Communication Intelligence is basic in any sector ..

====================
@W.G.Ewald Sir, Its Signal corps duty ..

While we are on the topic, what is the level of networking of the long range radars in general?
We can get a pretty impressive view and coverage if we are able to network these low level radars also into such a system.

 

[Godless-Kafir]

ISDN in mountains??? I wonder if that is a wise idea, would these radar's would be networked by satellite as well?

 

[sayareakd]

ISDN in mountains??? I wonder if that is a wise idea, would these radar's would be networked by satellite as well?

GK i had talk with guys who have made this, he said this is for remote area, just put it on top of mountain then it will cover radar black out area.

It will fill gap that will make difficult for PAF and PLAAF to get into India undetected.