In a strategic move to bolster its combat capabilities, the Indian Army has deployed the Swathi Weapon Locating Radar (WLR) (Mountains), a cutting-edge technology developed domestically, aimed at locating enemy artillery and fortifying the armed forces’ response. This innovative radar system, a collaborative creation of the Electronics and Radar Development Establishment (LRDE) and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), is poised to revolutionize artillery detection and combat tactics.
Overview and Capabilities
The Swathi WLR (Mountains) is sophisticated mobile artillery-locating phased array radar meticulously crafted in India. Equipped with state-of-the-art features, this radar system is engineered to detect and track a wide array of incoming projectiles including artillery shells, rocket fire, and mortar rounds. The radar’s defining capability lies in its ability to accurately pinpoint the point of origin, a critical factor that empowers counter-battery fire response.
A pivotal milestone in indigenous defense technology, the Swathi WLR showcases the integration of passive electronically scanned array radar technology. This innovative design enables the radar to simultaneously track up to seven targets, an unprecedented feat in artillery detection. The system employs an adaptive radar resource scheduling mechanism, ensuring optimal utilization of its capabilities while maintaining real-time responsiveness. Furthermore, the radar’s interface provides a comprehensive display of digital maps and real-time data, enhancing situational awareness for commanders on the field.
The Swathi WLR (Mountains) is not bound by conventional limitations. Its remote operation and communication capabilities extend its reach and functionality, enabling seamless coordination and information sharing across the military network. This, in turn, greatly enhances the overall response time and effectiveness of the armed forces.
Performance and Tracking
One of the most remarkable aspects of the Swathi WLR (Mountains) is its exceptional performance in tracking a diverse range of threats. The radar system excels in detecting and tracking artillery rounds, mortars, and rockets, rendering it an all-encompassing solution for artillery locating tasks. Additionally, the system plays a crucial role in friendly artillery fire correction, tracking the fall of shot and enabling precision adjustments.
The radar’s prowess is demonstrated through its ability to detect large-caliber artillery rounds, even at distances of up to 30 kilometers. This extended reach enables the armed forces to effectively monitor and respond to artillery threats across varied terrains and battlefronts. Moreover, the Swathi WLR (Mountains) exhibits its capability to detect unguided rockets with an impressive range of up to 40 kilometers, showcasing its adaptability and versatility in handling diverse projectile threats.
One of the standout features of the radar system is its effectiveness even in high-density fire environments. The Swathi WLR (Mountains) is designed to track targets at various angles and aspect angles, a capability that is essential in countering artillery attacks from different directions. Its utilization of monopulse signals combined with pulse compression technology elevates its tracking precision and overall performance.
The adaptive weapon locating algorithm, based on a modified Runge-Kutta method, further amplifies the radar’s efficiency in identifying and predicting enemy artillery locations. This advanced algorithm ensures that the system can adapt to evolving battlefield dynamics, enhancing the accuracy and timeliness of its responses.