SOURCE: AFI
A recently viral image on social media showcases the indigenously developed Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) mounted on a rotating platform at DRDO’s Open Range RCS Measurement Facility (ORANGE) situated in Dundigal.
ORANGE serves as a crucial testing facility for both existing defense platforms employed by the Indian armed forces and those futuristic weapon systems currently under development by DRDO. The facility boasts the capability to conduct RCS (Radar Cross Section) measurements in a far-field scenario, along with characterizing onboard antenna characteristics. An official, who preferred anonymity, highlighted this aspect.
The versatile pylon within the facility is designed to accommodate a wide range of platforms, encompassing scale models, dummy mockups, operational light aircraft, and even heavyweight fighters like the Su-30MKI.
The expertise accumulated by RCI over the past two decades forms the foundation for the RCS measurement and calibration techniques employed at the test range. Furthermore, the facility’s RF imaging capability empowers engineers to pinpoint and diagnose prominent scattering centers (hot spots) on a platform, leading to improvements in its overall radar signature.