LRDE ADTCR (Air Defence Tactical Control Radar) 3D, surveillance & tracking radar system

India has unveiled a ground breaking anti-stealth radar grid, positioning its air defence architecture at the forefront of countering fifth-generation fighter jets like the F-35, J-20 and Su-57.

This development follows Operation Sindoor, which exposed vulnerabilities in existing systems against emerging aerial threats. Under Mission Sudarshan Chakra, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) leads efforts to integrate next-generation radars, addressing the proliferation of stealth platforms from adversaries such as China.

The urgency stems from a rapidly evolving threat landscape. Stealth aircraft, drones, and cruise missiles feature low radar cross-sections, allowing them to penetrate traditional defences undetected. China's expanding fleet of J-35 stealth fighters and unmanned systems exemplifies this challenge, while global conflicts like the Russia-Ukraine war and tensions in Gaza and Iran have spurred demand for such technologies worldwide.

India's response accelerates indigenous programmes, including the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), while prioritising counter-stealth measures. The centrepiece is the Passive Coherent Location Radar (PCLR), now woven into the national Low Observable Detection Network (LODN). 

This multi-layered grid links VHF-band surveillance radars, long-range low-level systems, and innovations like Vostok-D to plug detection gaps exploited by low-observable targets.

PCLR revolutionises detection by operating passively, eschewing its own radio emissions. It harnesses ambient signals, chiefly commercial FM radio broadcasts, to monitor airspace. When a stealth aircraft disrupts these signals through reflection or scattering, the system analyses the perturbations to pinpoint location, speed, and trajectory— all without betraying its position.

This passive multi-static configuration deploys receivers across dispersed sites, enabling multi-angle tracking. No central transmitter exists, rendering the network resilient to suppression efforts. Stealth designs, optimised for high-frequency evasion, falter against PCLR's low-frequency exploitation, amplifying detection efficacy.

Immunity to countermeasures further bolsters PCLR. Anti-radiation missiles, reliant on active emissions, prove futile here. Electronic surveillance struggles to identify passive nodes, and large-scale jamming of FM bands invites technical and diplomatic repercussions, limiting adversaries' options.

India's air defence ecosystem already integrates diverse assets: the indigenous Akash missile, Russia's S-400 Triumf, Israel's Barak-8, and SPYDER systems. These provide tiered interception across altitudes and ranges, from point defence to extended coverage. The anti-stealth grid enhances this by feeding precise targeting data to command centres, enabling swift threat assessment and engagement.

Geopolitical imperatives drive this modernisation. Prolonged border tensions with neighbours, coupled with missile and drone incursions, necessitate robust vigilance. China's stealth advancements and Pakistan's potential acquisitions underscore the need for asymmetric edges in detection.

Defence analysts highlight PCLR's prowess against marquee threats. The US F-35, with its advanced shaping and materials, evades X-band radars but shows vulnerabilities in VHF regimes. Russia's Su-57 faces similar limitations, while China's J-35 prototypes remain unproven in low-frequency encounters— gaps India's grid exploits ruthlessly.

Integration into LODN promises seamless data fusion. Sensors across bands share real-time intelligence via secure networks, painting a comprehensive battlespace picture. Machine learning algorithms refine signal processing, distinguishing stealth perturbations from clutter with high fidelity.

Deployment strategies emphasise redundancy and mobility. Distributed receivers, often vehicle-mounted or concealed, evade pre-emptive strikes. Coastal and border installations extend coverage over critical theatres, from the Himalayas to the Indian Ocean.

Mission Sudarshan Chakra extends beyond PCLR. DRDO pursues quantum-enhanced radars and AI-driven prediction models to anticipate stealth ingress routes. Collaborations with private firms like Tata Advanced Systems and Bharat Forge accelerate production scaling.

Economic implications are profound. Indigenous development curtails import dependence, fostering self-reliance under Atmanirbhar Bharat. Export potential emerges, as nations facing stealth proliferation seek affordable, proven countermeasures.

Challenges persist, including signal variability from urban FM sources and computational demands for real-time analysis. DRDO mitigates these through adaptive algorithms and hybrid illuminators, blending FM with opportunistic TV or mobile signals.

Operational trials validate the grid's promise. Simulated F-35 incursions yielded detections at extended ranges, surpassing legacy systems. Live exercises against surrogate stealth drones confirmed tracking continuity amid electronic warfare.

This capability reshapes regional deterrence. Adversaries must recalibrate stealth reliance, knowing India's skies harbour unseen sentinels. As hypersonic threats loom, PCLR's framework adapts, incorporating over-the-horizon extensions.

India's anti-stealth radar grid transforms vulnerability into advantage, safeguarding sovereignty amid an era of invisible warfare. Continuous evolution ensures it remains a step ahead of proliferating fifth-generation perils.

Based On News18 Report