DefExpo 2018: New Indian-made active phased array multifunction 4D radar.

At DefExpo 2018, Land Naval & Internal Homeland Security Systems Defense Exhibition in India, the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO), a State Agency of the Republic of India, charged with the military's research and development, headquartered in New Delhi, presents a new local-made air defense radar MPR (Medium Power Radar) nicknamed Arudhra.

DRDO MPR (Medium Power Radar) nicknamed Arudhra at DefExpo 2018, Defense and Security Exhibition in Chennai, India, April 11, 2018. (Picture source Army Recognition)

The MPR is a an Indian-made rotating active phased array multifunction 4D radar capable of automatic detection and tracking of aerial targets ranging from fighter aircrafts to slow moving targets. The system has an instrumented range of 400 Km and is able to detect 2sqm RCS targets as far as 300 km in range with the altitude coverage from 100 meters to 30 km.

The radar operates either in Staring or Rotation Mode. In rotation mode, the antenna rotates at 7.5 / 15 rpm with surveillance coverage of 360° in azimuth and 30° in elevation. In staring mode of operation the antenna stares in specified azimuth with surveillance coverage of ±60° in azimuth and 30° in elevation.

The Radar of the MOR is based on solid state active aperture phased array with Digital Beam Forming and has electronic scanning capability in both azimuth and elevation. The coverage is attained using wide transmit beam and multiple receive beams in both azimuth and elevation.

The MPR technology can be to be used for any ship borne radar applications. The technology will be used for mountain radar and in future family of radarsof LRDE for various application. Presently MPR technology is used for similar class of radars for Indian Army.

For its mobility, the MPR radar is mounted on a trailer that is towed by 4x4 military truck chassis.