Dec 29 2010
DRDO, a leading defence research organisation, has indigenously devised the Aerostat radar for reinforcing the armed forces’air security grid and enhancing the country's reconnaissance potentialities.
The Aerostat has been innovated by the Agra-based Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment (ADRDE) laboratory of DRDO and is carrying out the last experiments with full payload and will be supplying the aerostat for armed forces shortly, according to the officials at DRDO.
These Aerostat radars are equipped with sensing devices that are integrated on the blimp-like huge balloons bound to the ground using lengthy wires for air force applications. This unique radar has the capability to rise about one km above the ground. Its payload features electro-optical sensing devices and systems for transmission intelligence.
The armed forces have been depending on Israeli aerostat radar systems, used along the western frontiers and permit the security forces to inspect the flying bodies beyond its territory.The Aerostat radars are functional in a 360° search mode and remains submerged constantly for about four to five weeks at a stretch. They are highly economical and user-friendly compared to AWACS.
India has currently secured three AWACS systems from Israel and is intending to get two more identical systems. The AWACS and Aerostat radars function as surveillance systems and aids in improving the conditional awareness of the theatre supervisors to identify unreceptive aircraft and supports aerial warfare functions by properly locating air security fighters against them.
Source: http://www.drdo.org