Uttam AESA Radar

Uttam is a (Active electronically scanned array), multi-mode, solid state phased array radar under development by Electronics and Radar Development Establishment (LRDE), a laboratory of the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO). It is intended to be used with HAL Tejas Mk.1A and HAL Tejas Mk.2 aircraft with plans to implement a larger variant on-board India's 5th Generation fighter aircraft HAL AMCA.[1][2]

Uttam
Uttam AESA radar displayed at Aero India 2019
Country of originIndia
ManufacturerHAL
DesignerElectronics and Radar Development Establishment
Introduced2009
TypeSolid-state AESA

It is a liquid cooled AESA radar featuring quad band modules that can be stacked to form a larger unit. This allows the manufacturer to scale the radar to be used in larger aircraft. There are plan afoot to create a larger scalable design to be used in India's 5th Generation fighter aircraft HAL AMCA.[3]

The radar development started in 2008 and it was later unveiled in Aero India, 2009.[4] Three units are in various phases of testing, first unit is on a rooftop-mounted testing facility, the second unit has been validate on an executive jet and the third unit is undergoing validation and flight testing in the second Limited Series production model of HAL Tejas. Once fully validated and certified, plan is to introduce the radar in later batches of Tejas MK.1A aircraft.[2][5] The Uttam radar will be used with DRDO's Unified Electronic Warfare suite.[6]

During Aero India 2019, DRDO displayed Tejas LSP-2 test aircraft with fully integrated Uttam radar.[4][7] As of 16 August 2020, Uttam already completed 100 hours of testing with additional 25 hours on HAL Tejas for air-to-air mode and its sub parametres.[8]

During Aero India 2021, there was a licensing agreements for TOT from DRDO to HAL for manufacturing and integration of Uttam in Mk1 and 1A version of Tejas.[9]

Features
  • Full solid-state (electronics) radar, based on GaAs
  • High MTBCF (redundancy)
  • Extended detection rages
  • Multi Target Tracking (100 Target), Priority Tracking.
  • Simultaneous operation modes.
  • Solid-state, active phased array technology
  • Pulse Doppler, all aspect, shoot down capabilities
  • Simultaneous multi-target tracking and engaging
  • Simultaneous multi-mode operation
  • High ECM immunity
  • Ultra-low side-lobe antenna
  • Flexible interfaces allowing scalable design.
  • Modular hardware and software
  • Fast-beam agile system
  • Quad band TRM modules pack.
  • High mission reliability (built with redundancy)
  • IFF modes.
  • C-band LOS, Ku band satcom link.

Operational Modes

Uttam AESA radar has a total of 18 modes in Air to Air, Air to Ground and Air to Sea. The modes has been validated on-board a business jet and further proofing is being done on HAL Tejas to validate the same on supersonic platform.[10]

Air-to-Air consist of about 60% of radar testing.

  • Air-to-Air
    • TWS/Multi-target detection and tracking
    • Multi-target ACM
    • High resolution raid assessment
  • Air-to-Ground
    • High resolution imaging (SAR Mode)
    • High resolution tracking (SAR Mode)
    • AGR - Air-to-Ground Ranging
    • RBM - Real Beam Map
    • DBS - Doppler Beam Sharpening
    • GMTI on RBM, SAR
    • Weather
  • Air-to-Sea
    • High resolution imaging (SAR Mode)
    • High resolution tracking (SAR Mode)
    • Sea search and multi-target tracking
    • RS and ISAR classification modes
  • Uttam AESA Radar integrated in LCA Tejas showcased during Aero India 2019.
  • Uttam AESA radar on display at Aero India 2019
  • Side profile of Uttam AESAR.
  • The Active Antenna Array Unit (AAAU) of Uttam AESA radar on static display at Aero India, 2019

See also

References
  1. Roblin, Sebastien (12 August 2017). "Is India on the Verge of Building a Super Jet Fighter?". The National Interest.
  2. Ajai Shukla. "Rs 26k-crore order for building Tejas Mark 1A to open door for Mark 2". Business Standard. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
  3. "Uttam AESA radar: Everything you need to know". Aero Journal India. Retrieved 14 January 2019.
  4. "India Displays Locally-made AESA Radar for Tejas Jet at Aero India 2019". DefenseWorld. Retrieved 20 February 2019.
  5. "HAL cuts its profit on Tejas Mark 1A deal by 50%, fighter jets to take to sky by 2022". The Print. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
  6. "Single Engine Fighter Cancellation Provides An Opening For Tejas MK-2". Delhi Defence Review. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  7. Shiv Aroor. "REVEALED: The Indian LCA Navy's Big Fight Back". LiveFist. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
  8. "Reporter Rajnath: When defence minister gave minute-by-minute news breaks on Rafale arrival". OnManorama. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
  9. "DRDO hands over Licensing Agreements for Transfer of Technology for 14 technologies to 20 industries". PIB. 5 February 2021.
  10. Uttam AESA Radar Update with Project Director Mr. D Seshagiri (LRDE). Delh Defence Review. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
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