India-Israel To Develop AESA Radar For LCA Tejas

India will develop an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar with Israel for the next generation of its Tejas light combat aircraft (LCA).

The Indian air force has accepted the indigenous Tejas light combat aircraft (LCA) which previously it had opposed, Business Standard reported Sunday.

The configurations of the new Tejas called SoP-18 were agreed in New Delhi on September 23, between the air force and the Tejas' designers and manufacturers. The IAF agreed to buy 100 SoP-18 fighters from Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), in addition to the 20 Tejas Mark I already on order.

The Elta-HAL AESA radar has key advantages over conventional "manually steered" radar. In the latter, the antenna is moved manually to let the radar beam scan the sky for enemy targets.

India's Defence R&D Organisation (DRDO) cannot yet miniaturise airborne radar for a fighter's nose (it has built a larger radar for airborne early warning and control aircraft). Hence, the Tejas fighter was equipped with the EL/M-2032 radar, bought from Israeli company, Elta but the equipment of Tejas with AESA radar will make it a more capable fighter.