The Anti Stealth Very High Frequency (VHF) Radar, developed in partnership with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and the defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO), aims to improve India’s air defence capabilities by identifying stealth aircraft. The radar, which will be officially inaugurated on January 29, 2025, at BEL’s Ghaziabad plant, represents a huge step forward in indigenous defence technology.
The VHF radar works in the 30 to 300 MHz frequency range, allowing it to identify aircraft built to avoid conventional radar systems. Its larger wavelengths are less easily absorbed or deflected by stealth coatings and designs, making it more capable of detecting and tracking stealth aircraft than traditional X-band radars.
The radar offers improved surveillance characteristics, such as a “staring capability” that detects stealth targets from long distances. It can track airborne targets beyond 100 nautical miles and give early alerts of possible hazards.
Mobility Mounted on two TATRA trucks, the radar is designed for quick deployment and can be flexibly repositioned to meet changing security requirements.
VHF radar is primarily utilised as an early warning capability, monitoring large areas of airspace to identify stealth invasions. This early notice gives the Indian Air Force (IAF) enough time to deploy its defensive systems or interceptors, negating the stealth advantage.
The inclusion of this VHF radar into India’s air defence network shows a layered defensive strategy that combines several radar technology to obtain extensive coverage and successfully fight stealth threats.
Stealth aircraft are less likely to have countermeasures that work against VHF frequencies, increasing the radar’s efficacy.
The radar will be showcased at Aero India 2025, giving defence professionals and industry executives a firsthand look at its capabilities.
