In a major boost to India’s make-in-India in Defence, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has signed a capital acquisition contract with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Ghaziabad, for the procurement of Low-level Transportable Radar (LLTR) 'Ashwini' for INR 2,906 crore.

The Ashwini radar is an active electronically scanned phased array radar. It is indigenously designed and developed by the Electronics and Radar Development Establishment, a laboratory under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

Salient features of Ashwini 

  • Capable of tracking a wide range of aerial targets, from high-speed fighter aircraft to slow-moving objects such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and helicopters
  • Advanced capabilities will provide the IAF with improved surveillance and tracking of aerial threats, thereby strengthening national air defence 
  • Features integrated Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) systems with electronic scanning in azimuth and elevation, enabling 4D surveillance
  • It has advanced Electronic Counter-Countermeasures (ECCM) capabilities and can operate across various terrains, especially designed for mobility 

This procurement aligns with the government's 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' (self-reliant India) initiative, aiming to reduce dependency on foreign-origin equipment manufacturers and promote indigenous defense manufacturing.