Air Force's fighter aircraft will be equipped with 'Angad' and 'Uttam', being developed indigenously

In a significant step amid the ongoing efforts for the indigenization of military systems, the Indian-made Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mark-1A will be equipped with advanced radar and an Angad electronic wirefire suite. Till now imported system was used in it.

Defense officials said that the Uttam Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar and Angad electronic warfare suite are being developed indigenously. It will soon be ready to be integrated with the LCA Mark-1A aircraft.

The Air Force has already placed an order for 83 LCA Mark-1A fighter aircraft and is going to order another 97 aircraft in the near future. Sources said that from the 41st aircraft to the order of 83 LCA Mark-1A aircraft, the electronic warfare suite and AESA radar will be made in India. This will increase indigenous equipment in these aircraft. These will be installed in place of imported systems.

The projects are being implemented by various laboratories of the Defense Research and Development Organisation. Equipping LCA with indigenous weapon systems will create opportunities for growth in the defense industry. Apart from this, foreign exchange will also be saved. Sources said that the Uttam radar has shown very promising results even in the construction phase. Even high-end fighter planes are being considered to be equipped with it.