Page 24 - ADT NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2023 Online Magazine

Lyndon Hoyle, Head of Typhoon Delivery Team, its fleet of Sukhoi SU-30 MKI fighter jets. Speaking to the press in
Ministry of Defence DE&S, said. October, IAF chief Air Chief Marshall VR Chaudhari said, the air force
was looking to upgrade 84 aircraft at a cost of nearly Rs 600 billion.
The UK is making a £2.35billion investment into State-owned airframer Hindustan aeronautics limited (HAL) which
Typhoon which also includes P4E, a package of has produced the SU-30 MKI under license in India will manage the
upgrades designed to ensure nations can fully upgrade effort. In a recent interview to the Hindustan Times, HAL
exploit new sensors. The third element of the Chairman CB Ananthakrishnan stated the indigenously developed
investment will cover the series production of ‘Uttam’ AESA radar would be fitted on the SU-30 MKI as part of the
40 ECRS Mk2 radars for the UK’s fleet of Tranche upgrade effort.
3-standard Typhoon aircraft.
Little information is available publicly about the radar, which was
RAF Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir originally developed for India’s indigenously developed Tejas light
Mike Wigston, said, “The ECRS Mk2 radar is a combat aircraft. The Indian radar will replace the SU-30 MKIs Russian
transformational upgrade for our Typhoon air- origin N011M BARS radars on 84 aircraft.
craft, and a step change in capability. It will
ensure Typhoon is ready and able to protect our AESA radars will also be integrated on the IAF’s upcoming Tejas
skies into the future, in the face of fast-evolving Mk-1A light fighters. The air force presently operates two squad-
threats to the UK and our allies.”
rons of Tejas Mk-1s which are fitted with the Israeli Elta ELM-2032
mechanically scanned phased array radar. Tejas Mk-1A deliveries
Leonardo delivered the first prototype ECRS Mk2 to the air force start from next year and these aircraft will be fitted
radar to BAE Systems in April this year, with the with Elta’s ELM-2052 AESA radar, with later versions of the Tejas
first flying prototype planned to take to the air Mk-1A to be fitted with the indigenous Uttam radar.
in 2024. The ECRS Mk2 features an wideband
multi-functional array (MFA) that can perform
both traditional radar functions such as search Elta’s ELM-2052 AESA radars will also be fitted on approximately
and targeting. As a very high gain sensor, the 61 of India’s ageing fleet of Sepecat Jaguar strike fighters, which
ECRS Mk2 will be able to track both airborne are being upgraded by HAL to DARIN III standard. The contract
targets and surface-based emitters without for upgradation of 61 Jaguar Display, Attack, Range and Inertial
having to discharge a signal itself Navigation-I (DARIN-I) aircraft to DARIN-III standard was signed with
HAL in December 2009. Initial operational clearance (IOC) and Final
India Eyes SU-30 MKI Upgrade operational clearance (FOC) were originally to have been achieved
by December 2012 & June 2013 respectively. As per the original con-
The Indian air force (IAF) is finally proceeding tractual timelines for delivery, all the series upgrade aircraft were to
with a longstanding requirement to upgrade have completed their upgrade in December 2017..

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