Indian Navy Advanced AAS Radar Upgrade: India is getting ready to add more powerful sea-surveillance planes to its navy. The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) under the Indian Ministry of Defence has cleared a plan to buy six more Boeing P-8I Neptune aircraft. These planes are used to watch over the ocean and track enemy ships and submarines.
The deal is very big in size. It is said to cost around ₹28,000 crore at first. Over time, with weapons, spare parts, and maintenance, the total value may go up to about $4 billion, reported IDRW. This is not just about adding more planes. The navy wants to make these new aircraft much more advanced than the ones it already has.
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New Radar can Track Hidden Submarines
Right now, India already has 12 P-8I planes. These use the Raytheon APY-10 radar and a Magnetic Anomaly Detector to find targets in the sea. They work well, but they mostly detect things that are easier to spot, like ships or submarines near the surface.
The new six aircraft are expected to get a much stronger system called the AN/APS-154(V) Advanced Airborne Sensor, also known as AAS. This radar is made by Raytheon and is very advanced. It is placed under the aircraft in a long pod. It uses AESA technology, which helps it scan large areas of sea and land with high detail. It can track moving targets both on water and on land, even in bad weather.
What makes this system special is how it finds submarines. Older systems need something visible, like a periscope or snorkel. This one can notice small changes on the water surface caused by submarines moving deep below. That means even hidden submarines can be tracked. If used fully, it can take away the stealth advantage that modern submarines usually have. When combined with weapons like Mk 54 torpedoes, the aircraft becomes a very strong hunter in the ocean.
Why India wants this Upgrade
The Indian Ocean region is becoming more tense. There has been an increase in Chinese submarines and research ships in these waters recently which can be dangerous. And due to that India wants better tools to watch areas like the Malacca Strait. These are important routes where ships pass, and keeping an eye on them is very important for safety and strategy.
This new radar will help India track movement in these areas without missing anything. It will also help during emergencies, patrol missions, and joint operations. The aircraft will be able to cover a much larger area and give better information in real time.
Cost and Challenges of the Deal
Getting this advanced system is not easy. It is very expensive, and this is one reason why the deal took many years to move forward. Even the United States uses this radar on only a few of its own aircraft because of its high cost and sensitive nature.
There are also technical and political steps involved. Since the system collects very sensitive data, India and the United States must agree on how the information will be handled. This is done under an agreement which is called COMCASA. India is also focusing on using its own secure systems like BEL Data Link II so that the data stays safe and under its control.
