India has taken another step forward in indigenous maritime surveillance technology with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) unveiling the SHYEN sensor suite for the Indian Navy's Dornier Do 228 maritime patrol aircraft.

Designed as a comprehensive upgrade package, the indigenous system combines advanced surveillance, reconnaissance, communication and electronic warfare capabilities to significantly improve maritime domain awareness and operational effectiveness.

At the core of the suite is the KSHITIJ Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, a long-range multirole maritime surveillance system developed to detect and track both sea-surface and airborne targets.

The radar supports multiple operational modes, including Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) for high-resolution imaging, Ground Moving Target Indicator (GMTI) functions, weather monitoring, and search-and-rescue missions. These capabilities enable the aircraft to perform a wider range of maritime security and reconnaissance tasks.

According to information released with the system, KSHITIJ incorporates around 600 Gallium Nitride (GaN)-based transmit/receive modules arranged in a tiled architecture. The use of GaN technology enhances radar efficiency, power output and reliability while supporting sub-metre-class target resolution.

The radar is also integrated with the Automatic Identification System (AIS), Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) and electro-optical sensors. Artificial intelligence-assisted target classification further improves the identification and tracking of vessels, aircraft and other contacts operating in complex maritime environments.

Complementing the radar is an advanced Electronic Support Measures (ESM) system capable of monitoring a wide spectrum of signals ranging from VHF to Ka-band frequencies. The system can detect, intercept and analyse potential hostile radar emissions, strengthening the aircraft's electronic intelligence and surveillance capabilities.

The SHYEN suite also incorporates a high-definition Electro-Optical/Infrared (EO/IR) system that provides detailed day-and-night imagery for aerial reconnaissance, surveillance and target identification missions.

A Software-Defined Radio (SDR) forms the communications backbone of the package, enabling secure transmission of sensor information to naval commanders and supporting real-time operational coordination across maritime forces.

Developed as part of India's broader drive towards defence self-reliance, the SHYEN suite is intended to modernise the Navy's Dornier Do 228 fleet by replacing legacy systems with indigenous technologies. The integration of radar, ESM, EO/IR and communication capabilities into a single networked solution is expected to substantially enhance the aircraft's effectiveness in maritime patrol, coastal surveillance, intelligence gathering and search-and-rescue operations.

The development also highlights India's growing expertise in advanced AESA radar technology, electronic warfare systems, artificial intelligence-enabled surveillance and GaN-based defence electronics, all of which are increasingly important for modern naval operations.

Agencies