BEL Offers Homemade Phased Array Radars For Tejas

BEL is offering indigenously-built radars for the Indian Air Force’s LCA Tejas currently featuring Israeli multi-mode radars on board.

SK Sharma, Chairman and Managing Director of BEL told reporters here at Aero India 2015, “Our Active Array Radar is currently being developed in collaboration with DRDO, and would take 2 years to complete. The progress is going good and we hope Tejas could ultimately have homemade radars."

The company executive highlighted the other IAF upgrade programmes including its electronic warfare suites expected to undergo trials in 6 months, which is also likely to cover the LCA program.

Simultaneously, BEL is developing new technical control radar for the army, low level transportable radars for IAF and army, as well as weapon upgrades for army.

Further adding, Sharma said Akash missile for the Indian Army has gained production clearance and the delivery will commence in next 2-3 years. “BEL has a share of over 3000-4000 crore in the order size of Rs 14000 crore”.

BEL will supply systems including long range capture surveillance and capture radar, fire-control radar, control systems among others.

Quizzed upon the Indian Army’s Battlefield Management System (BMS) program, Sharma said the official nod has not been given yet, and the actual progress will take another 4 years. BEL is bidding with 7 other companies.