DRDO Unveils Photonic Radar to Detect Stealth Aircraft
India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has announced a major technological breakthrough with its new photonic radar—a system that uses light-based technology to detect stealth aircraft, drones, and hypersonic threats. Developed by the Electronics and Radar Development Establishment (LRDE) in Bengaluru under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative, the photonic radar marks a significant leap in indigenous defence capabilities.
Photonic Radar
The system deploys optical wavelengths instead of traditional radio frequencies to emit and analyze signals. This shift enables ultra-high-resolution detection, likened to moving from blurry imagery to crystal-clear 4K visuals. Early trials have shown the radar’s ability to detect objects as small as 3 × 4 cm—demonstrating precision on par with the most advanced global systems.
Stealth Detection
Stealth aircraft evade conventional radar by minimizing their radar cross-section. The photonic radar overcomes this limitation by operating in the optical domain, making stealth harder to conceal. Its heightened sensitivity allows it to identify low-observable platforms even under jamming and deceptive countermeasures.
Operational Advantages
- High Accuracy: Enables precise targeting and identification, even of very small threats.
- Electronic Resistance: Optical signals are much harder to jam than radio frequencies.
- Platform Agnostic: Designed for flexible deployment on fighters, UAVs, naval ships, mobile land units, and high-altitude posts.
Roadmap Ahead
DRDO plans comprehensive field trials across diverse terrains—mountainous, coastal, desert—to validate performance. Pending success, integration could follow on platforms like Su-30MKI, Rafale, Tejas, and Akashteer systems. Prototype-to-deployment transition is projected to span 2025–26.
Boosting Indigenous Defence
This achievement positions India among a few countries with next-generation radar tech. It also supports the national agenda of defence self-reliance, complementing ongoing indigenization efforts in combat aircraft and missile systems.
