Electronics and Radar Development Establishment (LRDE)

Electronics and Radar Development Establishment (LRDE)

Historical Background
LRDE has its genesis in the Inspectorate of Scientific Stores created in 1939 at Rawalpindi which was redesignated as Technical Development Establishment (Instruments and Electronics) in 1946 and located at Dehradun.

In the year 1958 with bifurcation of electronics activity into inspection and R&D, the Electronics Research and Development Establishment was formed at Bangalore with men and material inherited from TDE (I&E). The establishment was renamed in 1962 as Electronics and Radar Development Establishment (LRDE) and dedicated to the design and development of Radar and Communication equipment.

A number of DRDO laboratories have originated from this mother Establishment. In 1986, LRDE moved from High Grounds, Bangalore to its present location spread over 60 acres at CV Raman Nagar, Bangalore amidst calm and serene surroundings. In 2000, the communication projects were merged with Centre for Artificial Intelligence & Robotics (CAIR). Presently, LRDE’s charter is to develop radar systems and technologies.

Vision
To create a centre of excellence in design and development of radars and related Technologies.
Mission
Develop Radar systems and related technologies to cater to the needs of Services. Enhance the infrastructure, knowledge base and technologies for achieving self reliance.
Quality Policy
LRDE is committed to the indigenous development of modern radar systems through an effective Quality Management System.
Core Competencies
Radar System Engineering for Ground based, Ship borne and Air borne systems
Design and Development of major sub-systems - Mechanical and Electronic Scanning Antennas, High Performance Transmitters, Exciters, Receivers, T/R Modules, Digital Signal & Data Processors, Mechanical Engineering.
Radar System Integration and Evaluation.
Radar Networking and Data Fusion.
Environmental engineering including EMI/EMC.

Electronics and Radar Development Establishment (LRDE)
Achievements

Radar Systems
Indian Doppler Radar (INDRA-I): INDRA is a 2D mobile surveillance radar for low level target detection. The radar is housed in two wheeled vehicles. Some of the main features are automated Track While Scan (TWS), integrated IFF and high scan rate for high speed target detection. The radar is produced by M/s BEL and inducted into Service.

Indra-II PC Radar: It is a variant of INDRA radar for ground controlled interception of targets. The radar uses pulse compression for detection of low flying aircrafts in heavy ground clutter with high range resolution. Radar has good ECCM capabilities. The radar has been produced by M/s BEL and is used by Indian Air Force and Army.

Rajendra Radar: Rajendra, multifunction phased array radar, is the primary sensor at battery level for Akash SAM system - an air defence system for the Indian Army as part of Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP). The radar has the capability to perform extensive search, track multiple targets and missiles, and to command and guide own multiple missile concurrently. The radar system, mounted on two tracked vehicles – Battery Level Radar (BLR) and Battery Control Center (BCC), is available to tactical forces for all types of operations with matching mobility. The radar has the flexibility to work in Group or Autonomous mode, and it has UHF communication facility to support Group mode of operation.

3-Dimensional Central Acquisition Radar (3D-CAR): This is a medium range surveillance radar for Akash at Group level, with high mobility and excellent high and low level coverage. The radar provides range, azimuth and height information of the targets, enabling better designation of targets for follow up actions. This radar is designed to function in multiple roles with potential to meet the surveillance needs of all the three Services. The radar is packaged in a KOLOS TATRA two-vehicle configuration with a third vehicle carrying diesel generator sets. The vehicle housing the antenna and most of the sensor subsystems is called the Radar Sensor Vehicle (RSV). The second vehicle called the Data Center Vehicle (DCV) houses the radar consoles, data processor unit and communication unit. Variants of the radar have been developed for Army Air Defence, Air Force and Navy for air space surveillance applications.

Battle Field Surveillance Radar – Short Range (BFSR-SR): The Battle Field Surveillance Radar - Short Range (BFSR-SR) is a man portable, battery operated Surveillance Radar. The system has capability to detect, track and classify variety of moving ground surface targets. BFSR-SR is a reliable sensor for all weather, and day and night operation. The radar can be carried in three man-packs.

The radar is a simple, easy to use and user friendly surveillance e-sensor, in that an Infantry soldier can install and effectively put the radar into operation within five minutes. It has been built to be a reliable surveillance and tracking radar to search a specific sector to detect and perform track while scan for multiple targets like crawling man, single / group of walking men and light / heavy vehicle. Audio and visual aids help identify and classify a target decisively.

The radar has a facility to operate from a distance of more than 100 meters, using field cable to help a soldier to operate the radar from the safety of bunkers or trenches, and deploy the radar at a suitable spot to meet technical and tactical requirements.

BFSR-SR has built-in networking facility, which offers significant wide area surveillance with integrated surveillance picture available centrally at an identified location. All radars can be controlled from the central location. BFSR-SR with co-mounted IR sensor for enhanced target information is also available. The radar has been productionised by M/s BEL and inducted into Army.

Super Vision Maritime Patrol Radar (SV-2000 MPAR): This Radar is designed and developed for Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) and has capability to detect and track airborne targets, sea surface targets like boats, ships and frigates and sea skimmer missiles under sea clutter. The radar is suited for other platforms such as KAMOV helicopter Dornier aircraft. ISAR feature is available for classification of sea surface targets.

Avalanche Victim Detector (AVD): It is a life saving device for use by soldiers operating in the snow-bound avalanche prone areas to detect victims buried under an avalanche debris.
AVD is a transmitter-cum-direction finding receiver with a built in directional antenna. The equipment consists of fully surface mounted device electronic circuitry enclosed in a sealed light-weight container of glass filled nylon. The system has been manufactured by private industry in large numbers and is being used effectively by Services.