DRDO’s Arudhra Radar Simulation: A new report has pushed India’s Arudhra radar into the news. The report says an AI-based simulation showed the DRDO-made Arudhra Medium Power Radar, or MPR, spotting and following a fake Lockheed Martin F-35A stealth fighter inside India’s air defence network. It was only a computer test, not a real fight in the sky.
So it should be seen as a demo of ideas, not proof of a live intercept. The radar itself is a real Indian system. DRDO designed it, BEL manufactures it, and official material says it is a 4D multi-function phased array radar with electronic steering in both azimuth and elevation. BEL also says the medium power radar is based on Active Aperture Phased Array Radar technology and is meant to improve Indian Air Force surveillance with strong ECCM features.
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Arudhra is built for air surveillance, target detection, aircraft tracking, missile tracking, and air defence coordination. In simple words, it is meant to watch the sky and help the air defence team know what is coming. Official and industry sources also describe it as a rotating, indigenous radar with 360-degree coverage and multi-target tracking. It is part of India’s wider plan to replace older surveillance gear with newer Indian systems.
What the Simulation does
The report says the test happened in a virtual setup. The radar kept tracking a low-observable target. The data was then sent into the Indian Air Force’s Integrated Air Command and Control System, known as IACCS. AI models were used to judge the tracking quality and possible engagement choices. The aim was to see how an Indian radar might work against a stealth-type threat in a modern networked air defence setup.
IACCS is very important here. Official Defence Ministry and PIB material says it is the backbone of the IAF’s network-centric air defence system. It gives a live picture of the airspace and helps different sensors and weapons work together fast. PIB also says IACCS works with the Army’s Akashteer and the Navy’s Trigun in a joint air defence network. That makes sensor sharing and quick response much easier.
Importance for India’s Air Defence
The F-35A matters because it is one of the best-known fifth-generation stealth fighters in the world. It uses a low radar cross-section, sensor fusion, electronic warfare tools, and networked combat systems. Stealth aircraft are made to be hard to see on normal radars. That is why any report about a radar tracking one gets so much attention.
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The bigger point is that India is moving toward more home-grown air defence tools. Arudhra is one part of that push. BEL and DRDO have also been linked with other Indian radar and air defence projects, including Akashteer-related systems, Air Defence Control and Reporting systems, and newer radar builds shown at recent defence events. India’s wider radar work also includes counter-stealth thinking, with other indigenous radars and AI tools now being added to the air defence mix.
