Defence Ministry Signs Rs 3,700-Crore Deal With BEL To Enhance IAF's Surveillance, Detection Capabilities

Both the MPR 'Arudhra' and DR-118 Radar Warning Receivers are advanced radar systems that provide critical information on surveillance, detection, tracking and electronic warfare capabilities.

DR-118 Radar Warning Receiver will considerably enhance the Electronic Warfare (EW) capabilities of Su-30 MKI aircraft ( Image Source :AFP )

The Ministry of Defence on Thursday signed two contracts with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) to enhance the operational capabilities of the Indian Air Force. The two deals are worth over Rs 3,700 crore.

The first contract, worth over Rs 2,800 crore, pertains to the supply of Medium Power Radars (MPR) ‘Arudhra’ for the Indian Air Force. The second contract will enable the defence ministry to acquire 129 DR-118 Radar Warning Receivers (RWR). Both projects are under Buy Indian – IDMM (Indigenously Designed Developed and Manufactured) category, said defence officials.

The contracts, which will ramp up the Indian Air Force's surveillance, detection, tracking and electronic warfare capabilities, are aimed at boosting the Centre's policy of 'Atmanirbhar Bharat'.

The MPR 'Arudhra' is a multi-function phased array radar developed by India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). It is capable of detecting and tracking both airborne and ground-based targets in a 360-degree coverage area. The MPR 'Arudhra' uses advanced signal processing techniques and can operate in a variety of modes, including surveillance, tracking, and weapon guidance. It has a range of up to 400 km and can detect targets at altitudes of up to 30 km.

The DR-118 Radar Warning Receiver (RWR) is a radar warning system designed to detect and locate hostile radars. It is used by the Indian Air Force to provide early warning to pilots of potential threats. The DR-118 RWR can detect radar signals from a range of sources, including ground-based radars, airborne radars, and surface-to-air missiles. It uses advanced signal processing algorithms to filter out noise and interference and provides real-time information to pilots. 

"The DR-118 Radar Warning Receiver will considerably enhance the Electronic Warfare (EW) capabilities of Su-30 MKI aircraft. Majority of sub-assemblies and parts will be sourced from indigenous manufacturers.  The project will boost and encourage active participation of Indian Electronics and associated industries, including MSMEs. It will generate employment of approx. two lakh man-days over a period of three and half years," the Centre said in a statement. 

Both the MPR 'Arudhra' and DR-118 Radar Warning Receivers are advanced radar systems that provide critical information to military personnel. They are designed to operate in challenging environments and provide accurate and reliable data to support military operations.