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SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG

In a significant milestone for India’s indigenous aerospace development, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) recently showcased the first of its kind composite nose cone developed for the Tejas MkII program. The event, held in Pune, was graced by the presence of the DRDO Chief, marking a proud moment for India’s defense technology sector.

The newly developed nose cone, or Radome, has been meticulously crafted to meet the rigorous demands of modern aerial combat. A sneak peek at the project confirmed that the Radome employs high-purity quartz, which is known for its ideal structural reinforcement capabilities in high-performance composite materials. This choice of material underscores the radome’s exceptional strength-to-weight ratio and its ability to minimize electromagnetic interference (EMI), critical for the performance of onboard avionics.

The use of quartz fiber not only provides the necessary structural integrity but also ensures that the Radome does not interfere with the radar signals, crucial for air navigation, weather detection, and advanced air-to-air targeting.

The Tejas MkII’s nose cone is notably smaller than its predecessor, the Tejas Mk1. The new design features a reduction in both length and diameter by about 10%. Specifically, the diameter at the base of the radome measures 809 mm, while it narrows down to 740 mm at the plane just in front of the antenna elements, optimizing the aerodynamic profile.

This radome supports a broad array of functionalities including in-flight entertainment and connectivity (IFEC), telecommunication, and satellite communications (SATCOM). The unique electromechanical characteristics of quartz fiber make it an excellent choice for these applications, ensuring high performance with minimal signal loss.

The development of this composite nose cone will be seen as one less imported component in the Tejas MkII jets since the Radome used on the Tejas Mk1A still comes from the Cobham Limited a British Aerospace company.

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