SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is exploring the integration of a small Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar on India’s Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) Prachand. This innovative development aims to enhance the helicopter’s combat capabilities by improving situational awareness, particularly in complex battlefield environments.
The Mini-AESA radar, under development by HAL, is designed to provide critical aerial mapping, ensuring that the crew has real-time data on the surrounding environment. With an ability to detect and track targets in varied conditions, the Mini-AESA radar would allow the LCH Prachand to navigate and engage with higher precision in combat zones, even when visibility is limited.
The Indian Army is keen to use the LCH in counter-drone operations. The radar’s long-range surveillance capabilities would allow it to detect and neutralize enemy drones, which have become a significant threat in modern warfare.
The radar’s precision targeting would make the LCH ideal for engaging loitering munitions, offering a unique countermeasure to these emerging threats. In addition to its primary combat roles, the radar would enhance the LCH’s ability to perform reconnaissance, surveillance, and strike operations in complex and contested environments.
The development of the Mini-AESA radar is not limited to the LCH but is also under consideration for use on Loyal Wingman and Autonomous Strike Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles (UCAVs). Its small size and advanced features make it an ideal fit for these platforms, which require enhanced situational awareness and precision in autonomous operations. By equipping these platforms with AESA radars, HAL aims to boost the effectiveness of India’s unmanned fleet, allowing for more sophisticated, coordinated strikes in joint operations with piloted platforms.
According to idrw.org, the Mini-AESA radar integration on the LCH Prachand is still in the consideration stage. Both the Indian Army and Indian Air Force will need to approve the concept before it moves to testing. If approved, the radar system will be subjected to rigorous Proof of Concept (PoC) trials. These trials would test the radar’s functionality and effectiveness in combat-like conditions, ensuring that it meets the operational requirements of the LCH before full-scale production and integration.
Integrating Mini-AESA radar into the LCH would significantly enhance India’s combat capabilities, giving its helicopters a significant edge in both conventional and asymmetrical warfare. The radar would also support the Army’s vision for a future-ready combat platform, able to adapt to new technologies and evolving battlefield challenges.
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