SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
In a major leap forward for indigenous radar technology and the Indian Air Force’s operational capability, the Su-30MKI fighter jets will be upgraded with the cutting-edge Virupaksha GaN-based AESA radar, designed specifically to detect and track stealth aircraft at long range. This will make the Su-30MKI the first 4.5-generation Indian fighter jet optimized to hunt stealth aircraft, enhancing its relevance in modern aerial warfare scenarios dominated by low-RCS platforms.
The Virupaksha radar, developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation’s (DRDO) Electronics and Radar Development Establishment (LRDE), represents a significant advancement over the Su-30MKI’s existing N011M Bars passive electronically scanned array (PESA) radar. With an antenna diameter of 950 mm and approximately 2,500 GaN-based TRMs, the radar offers superior performance in range, resolution, and resistance to electronic countermeasures. GaN technology provides higher power efficiency, better thermal management, and increased reliability compared to Gallium Arsenide (GaAs)-based systems, enabling a smaller, lighter, and more capable radar system.
The Virupaksha radar can detect a 1m² RCS target at up to 600 km, far beyond the range of most legacy systems. For low-observable targets such as stealth aircraft with an RCS of 0.01m², it can achieve detection at an estimated 200 km. This range comfortably places stealth aircraft within Beyond Visual Range (BVR) missile engagement envelopes, making Su-30MKIs equipped with Virupaksha potential stealth jet killers.
The Virupaksha radar’s ability to detect low-observable (stealth) aircraft, such as China’s J-20 or the J-35A potentially operated by the Pakistan Air Force, is a cornerstone of its design. Stealth aircraft typically have an RCS as low as 0.01 m², making them difficult to detect with conventional radars. The Virupaksha’s GaN-based AESA technology, combined with its high TRM count, enhances its sensitivity to low-RCS targets, enabling detection at significant distances.
The radar offers higher resolution, reduced power consumption, and enhanced thermal efficiency over earlier AESA systems, thanks to the use of GaN semiconductors. Optimized for multi-target tracking, electronic warfare resistance, and long-range air-to-air combat, Virupaksha significantly boosts the situational awareness and combat readiness of the Su-30MKI.
The Su-30MKI, with Virupaksha and the Astra MkIII missile (range 300–350 km), could indeed be the first non-stealth jet optimized to counter stealth aircraft at BVR distances. The radar’s range and missile integration provide a credible deterrent against low-RCS platforms like the J-35A.
The Super-30 upgrade program, costing approximately ?65,000 crore ($7.8 billion), will modernize 84 of the IAF’s 260 Su-30MKIs starting in 2026. The Virupaksha radar, combined with a new digital cockpit, infrared search and track (IRST) systems, and indigenous weaponry like the Astra MkIII (Gandiva) missile, elevates the Su-30MKI to a 4.5+ generation platform. The Astra MkIII, with its solid fuel ducted ramjet propulsion and 300–350 km range, complements the radar’s long-range detection, creating a formidable BVR combat system.
The radar’s swashplate mechanism enhances its versatility, allowing the Su-30MKI to function as a “mini-AWACS” with extended surveillance and targeting capabilities. This positions the aircraft to counter regional threats, particularly China’s J-20 and Pakistan’s potential J-35A, by detecting and engaging them before they can exploit their stealth advantages. An IAF official noted that the combination of Virupaksha and Astra MkIII could deter adversaries, as the radar’s ability to penetrate stealth features in the X-band and track low-RCS targets nullifies much of their advantage.
At Aero India 2025, Data Patterns unveiled the Hawk I 2700, a competing GaN-based AESA radar with 2,700 TRMs, claiming a 350 km range for a 5 m² RCS target and 200 km for a 1 m² RCS target. While the Hawk I 2700 offers slightly superior TRM count and range, the Virupaksha’s “plug and play” integration with the Su-30MKI’s existing nose cone and systems gives it an edge in retrofit efficiency. The IAF is evaluating both radars, with the Virupaksha benefiting from DRDO’s established collaboration with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL).
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