Swathi Weapon Locating Radar: Difference between revisions

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}}

{{Use Indian English|date=February 2022}}

The WLR project was officially sanctioned in April 2002, with a sanctioned amount of {{Indian Rupee}} 200&nbsp;million and an estimated completion time of 40 months.<ref>{{cite news | title = Manufacturing of Weapon Locating Radar | url = http://mod.nic.in/samachar/june15-02/html/ch8.htm | work = Sainik Samachar | publisher = [[Ministry of Defence (India)]] | date = 15 June 2002 | access-date = 2008-07-25 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090410193513/http://mod.nic.in/Samachar/june15-02/html/ch8.htm | archive-date = 10 April 2009 | url-status = live }}.</ref> The first working prototype was to be ready by April 2004. The final project cost was {{USD}} 49 million.{{Citation needed|date=July 2022}} In January 2003, an intent for procurement of 28 WLRs was placed with BEL.<ref name="MoD 3 Jul" />

The WLR is similar to the [[AN/TPQ-37 Firefinder radar|AN/TPQ-37 radar]] in design and performance<ref>{{cite news|title=India develops weapon-locating radar |url=http://news.indiamart.com/news-analysis/india-develops-weapo-8437.html |publisher=PIB Press Release |date=13 December 2004 |access-date=2008-07-25 |quote=India has developed a weapon-locating radar (WLR) similar to the AN/TPQ-37 of the US at a cost of {{Indian Rupee}}.260 million ($49 million), Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee told the Lok Sabha 9 Dec. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061029115250/http://news.indiamart.com/news-analysis/india-develops-weapo-8437.html |archive-date=29 October 2022}}</ref> but is reportedly more user friendly.<ref>[http://www.forceindia.net/interview3.asp "Once we Partner with World Class Companies, we May have to Upgrade our Capabilities"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080803165545/http://www.forceindia.net/interview3.asp |date=3 August 2008 }}, An Interview with H.S. Bhadoria, Director, Bangalore Complex, Bharat Electronics Ltd., ''Force Magazine''. Retrieved 28 July 2008</ref> It is a [[passive electronically scanned array]] radar, derived from the [[Rajendra Radar]] (which is the fire control radar for the [[Akash missile]] system).<ref name="DRDO Brochure" /> During tests of the [[Akash missile]] at Chandipur, engineers noticed the Rajendra radar was able to detect and track [[artillery]] shells being test fired at a nearby range.<ref name="Luthra">{{cite news | first = Gulshan | last = Luthra | title = Indian Army acquiring 28 indigenous Weapon Locating Radars | url = http://www.indiastrategic.in/topstories130.htm | work = India Strategic Magazine | location = [[New Delhi]] | date = July 2008 | access-date = 2008-07-28 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110721162415/http://www.indiastrategic.in/topstories130.htm | archive-date = 21 July 2011 | url-status = live }}</ref><ref name="What is India">{{cite news | title = BEL Weapon Locating Radars | url = http://www.whatisindia.com/stories/2006/12/wis_ds_20061214_bel_weapon_locating_radars.html | publisher = What Is India News Service | date = December 2006 | access-date = 2008-07-25 | quote = The new radar is based on the Rajendra-phased radar system that is already deployed in the Indian armed forces after engineers accidentally noticed during an anti-missile Akash missile test, that the Rajendra system could detect and track artillery shells. | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080904222036/http://www.whatisindia.com/stories/2006/12/wis_ds_20061214_bel_weapon_locating_radars.html | archive-date = 4 September 2008 | url-status = live }}</ref> Based on this observation, LRDE scientists were able to adapt the Rajendra Array into the WLR.

A basic prototype of the WLR was first unveiled at [[Aero India]]-2003.<ref name="ACIG AI-03">[http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_227.shtml Picture of the WLR] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141010180852/http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_227.shtml |date=10 October 2014 }} from [[Aero India]]-2003.</ref> The WLR was showcased at the Republic Day Parade in 2007.<ref>{{cite press release | title = Republic Day 2007 - A curtain raiser | publisher = Press Information Bureau, [[Government of India|GoI]] | date = 25 January 2007 | url = http://pib.nic.in/release/rel_print_page1.asp?relid=24362 | access-date = 2008-07-25 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110605163201/http://pib.nic.in/release/rel_print_page1.asp?relid=24362 | archive-date = 5 June 2011 | url-status = live }}</ref> User trials of the WLR began in 2005. The Army also used WLRs to further their "[[shoot-and-scoot]]" doctrine using self-propelled guns and artillery to loosen up defence before an offensive onslaught into hostile territory.<ref name="What is India" /> By mid-2006, the WLR was in advanced user acceptance trials and the radar was stated to be ready for production.<ref>{{cite news |title=India developing weapon locating radar |url=http://www.defenceindia.com/company_news/news133.html |publisher=Defence India |location=Bangalore |date=20 December 2005 |access-date=2008-01-23 |quote="It (weapon locating radar) is in the final stage of evaluation. Once evaluation is complete, we will deliver it to armed forces," chairman and managing director of BEL, Y Gopala Rao, told reporters. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080319232818/http://www.defenceindia.com/company_news/news133.html |archive-date=19 March 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title = Weapon locating radar in final evaluation stage | url = http://www.hindu.com/2005/12/21/stories/2005122125480400.htm | work = [[The Hindu]] | date = 21 December 2005 | access-date = 2008-07-25 | quote = Electronics and Radar Development Establishment (LRDE) and Bharat Electronics Limited are in the process of developing a weapon-locating radar, similar to the phased array Rajendra radar system, customised for airborne and ground defence systems. | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090210164521/http://hindu.com/2005/12/21/stories/2005122125480400.htm | archive-date = 10 February 2009 | url-status = dead }}</ref>

After user trials by the Indian Army in severe electronic clutter and "high density fire environment", in June 2008, the WLR was accepted by the [[Indian Army]].<ref name="Luthra" /> 28 units are on order, and are being manufactured by BEL. A large number of components will be sourced from the private sector, including some [[commercial off-the-shelf]] (COTS) components from the international market.<ref name="Luthra" /> The WLR will eventually service the Army's requirement for 40-50 systems.<ref>{{cite news |title=India to test long-range Agni missile next year |url=http://www.indianembassy.org/i_digest/2004/jan_15/agni.htm |work=India Digest |publisher=[[Embassy of India in Washington]] |date=15 January 2004 |access-date=2008-01-23 |quote=DRDO's weapon-locating radar would be in competition to fill the Indian Army's need for 40-50 such systems. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041215204829/http://www.indianembassy.org/i_digest/2004/jan_15/agni.htm |archive-date=15 December 2022}}</ref> Further improved versions of the WLR are being planned and designed,<ref name="Luthra" /> including longer range versions, as well as more compact variants for better operation and navigation over mountainous terrains. The [[Defence Research and Development Organisation]] (DRDO) officially handed over the WLR Swathi to the [[Indian Army]] on 2 March 2017 for service induction. Currently, the radar is using a [[Passive electronically scanned array|'passive' array]] but efforts are going on to upgrade it with an [[Active electronically scanned array|'active' array]] to enhance performance and reliability.<ref>{{cite news | title = DRDO radar handed over to Army; to bring down LoC artillery fire: Parrikar | url = http://www.oneindia.com/india/drdo-radar-handed-over-to-army-to-bring-down-loc-artillery-2363200.html | publisher = One India | date = 2 March 2017 | access-date = 2017-03-02 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190210055048/https://www.oneindia.com/india/drdo-radar-handed-over-to-army-to-bring-down-loc-artillery-2363200.html | archive-date = 10 February 2019 | url-status = live }}</ref>