IAF Super-30 Programme: After Operation Sindoor, India has started the process of upgrading its defense system with cutting edge technology. Indian Army, Indian Air Force and Indian Navy are updating the entire system with the help of latest technology. In this sequence, the Air Force has started working on the Super-30 program. Its objective is to upgrade the Su-30MKI fighter jet to such an extent that it can detect and immediately deactivate the stealth fighter object. Stealth fighter objects include those fighter jets, hypersonic missiles or drones, which cannot be detected or intercepted by radar systems. Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) is playing an important role in this. DRDO has developed a Gallium Nitrate based radar, which is capable of detecting stealth fighter objects from a long distance. Now work is going on to integrate it with Su-30MKI fighter jet. Let us tell you that to improve its air defense system, India is also working on such technology which is capable of intercepting the fifth generation fighter jet.
Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) is working rapidly on an important technology to keep the Sukhoi Su-30MKI, the most reliable fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF), relevant for the coming decades. This indigenous AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array) radar named ‘Virupaksha’ will not only form the backbone of the Su-30MKI’s Super-30 modernization program, but will also make it capable of countering stealth fighters. The Virupaksha radar being developed by DRDO is based on Gallium Nitride (GaN) technology, which is considered a major step forward in modern radar technology. According to the report of ‘Indian Defense Research Wing’, this radar ready for production will have more than 2,400 transmit-receive modules (TRM). Having such a large number of TRMs increases both its power and range significantly. This is the reason why it is being counted among the most powerful fighter-grade AESA radars in the region.
What is the strength of GaN technology?
The GaN technology being used in Virupaksha radar is considered to be many times better than the old GaAs based radars. This technology provides greater power efficiency, can tolerate more heat and is capable of sending high power signals for longer periods of time. The direct benefit of this is that the radar’s detection and tracking capabilities are greatly increased, especially against targets with very low radar cross section (RCS). The biggest feature of stealth fighter planes is that their RCS is very low, due to which they are not easily visible on normal radar. Virupaksha is being specially tuned to detect such ‘Low Observable’ and ‘Very Low Observable’ (VLO) aircraft.
IAF Super-30 Programme: Virupaksha AESA radar will be capable of detecting stealth fighter jets, missiles or drones. (File photo/AP)
Special preparations against whom?
DRDO experts are continuously working on Virupaksha’s signal processing algorithm and waveform generation. The objective is that the radar can identify even very weak return signals amidst noise and clutter. The special thing is that this radar will be able to detect even those stealth aircraft which are flying in ‘clean configuration’ without any external weapons or fuel tanks. In such circumstances, stealth aircraft are considered most difficult to identify. According to the information, Virupaksha aims to capture the stealth fighter with 0.01 square meter RCS from a distance of more than 200 kilometers. If this target is achieved, it will prove to be a strategic advantage for the Indian Air Force.
An attempt to break the trend of ‘first look, first kill’
The biggest advantage of stealth aircraft in modern air warfare is considered to be ‘first look, first kill’. That means seeing the enemy first and attacking, while the aircraft in front cannot even guess the danger. Generally, stealth jets have the ability to attack by entering the ‘no-escape zone’ of 80 to 100 kilometers. Virupaksha radar is an attempt to change this equation. Due to detection of stealth aircraft at a distance of more than 200 kilometers, Su-30MKI will get a chance to retaliate in time. This will allow Indian fighter aircraft to fire long-range air-to-air missiles, such as the Astra Mk-II and the future Astra Mk-III, from a safe distance.
Super-30 upgrade and preparation till 2050
Virupaksha radar is an important part of the Super-30 upgrade package. This upgrade includes new avionics, indigenous mission computers, advanced electronic warfare suites and many other systems. The purpose of all these improvements is to keep the Su-30MKI effective till the 2050s. After this upgrade, the Su-30MKI will not remain just a heavy multi-role fighter, but will develop into a high-capability counter-stealth platform. This means that this aircraft will be able to compete with even the most modern stealth jets of the enemy.
Challenge of China-Pakistan and need of India
In view of the rapidly changing security environment in Asia, it has become very important for India to detect stealth aircraft. China is inducting its J-20 stealth fighter in large numbers, while Pakistan may acquire stealth aircraft like J-35A in the coming years. In such a situation, stealth detection from long range has become the primary need of India. DRDO’s Virupaksh radar is being considered a decisive step in this direction. After it becomes operational, the Indian Air Force will be able to neutralize the enemy’s ‘first strike’ advantage to a great extent and maintain the balance in the air war. Overall, Virupaksha is not only a radar but also a strong foundation for future air defense.
