New Indian radar offers aircraft protection against bird hits

A new Indian radar - a global first - offers protection against the menace of aircraft bird hits while another can detect and track unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), the company that developed them said Tuesday. The company is eyeing domestic and international markets.

The two radars, among the four indigenously developed, are to be unveiled at the Aero India 2015 exposition at Bengaluru later this month, Sanjay Bhandari, founder chairman and managing director of OIS-Advanced Technology (OIS-AT), told reporters here.

The other two radars are a foliage penetration minefield and IED detection system, and a portable ground surveillance radar system for military and homeland security applications.

"We have worked diligently over the past few years to create our own intellectual property to invest, design develop and manufacture these advanced technology radars," Bhandari said.

"It is with great pride that we are launching these four advanced radar systems for global markets, in essence taking Indian intellectual property and manufactured product to advance our expanded vision of taking Make in India to the world," he added.

Giving details, he said the 3D bird detection system has an impressive deterrence option, using directed bio-acoustics (sound) and an eye-safe laser, both of which are automatically controlled by the radar system.

The UAV detection system, Bhandari said, can, at the click of a mouse, be automatically tuned for latching onto the drones or even high-speed fighter aircraft and helicopters.

"Unlike most air surveillance radars today, it includes a unique sense-and-avoid feature to identify UAVs that may be on a collision course, allowing the controller to take remedial action," he added.

The foliage penetration system can identify people with weapons and other assets from a fixed-wing aircraft or a UAV.

"With product availability slated for year-end, this system can also detect mines and buried improvised explosive devices (IEDs) to help sanitise routes and discover minefields," Bhandari said.

The company, he said, "has used an underlying user-focused design philosophy recognising that different customers have differing needs woldwide. Our four radars are designed to offer 34 configuration options for military and non-military use", he said.

This apart, the company will announce at Aero India (Feb 18-22) its technical collaborations as the OEM for advanced air defence systems for select military programmes in India.

"These technology collaborations with a number of NATO alliance-based countries will have us bid for the L-70 Successor Air Defence Gun programme (L-70S), of the Indian Army, the Close In Weapons System (CIWS) and the Pechora System Upgrade Air Defence Programmes of the Indian Air Force," Bhandari said. "The manufacture of these proven yrvhnology systems in India will advance our vision of the government's Make in India initiative."