HYDERABAD — Astra Microwave Products Limited has secured a confirmed domestic work order worth ₹2,205.23 crore from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the production and supply of key components of the indigenous Uttam Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, marking a significant step in the large-scale production of India's indigenous fighter radar programme.
According to the company's disclosure under SEBI regulations, the order has been awarded by a domestic government enterprise under the Ministry of Defence. The contract value is inclusive of all applicable taxes and GST. Astra Microwave also stated that neither its promoters nor promoter group companies have any interest in the awarding entity, and the transaction is not classified as a related-party transaction.
Under the contract, Astra Microwave will manufacture and supply 122 Active Antenna Array Units (AAAU) and 121 Interface Frames for the Uttam radar. The company said the order will be executed over a period of five years.
The Uttam AESA radar is an indigenous fire-control radar developed by the Electronics and Radar Development Establishment (LRDE) under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). It is intended for integration on the Tejas Mk1A and Tejas Mk2 fighter aircraft.
The radar uses a large number of Transmit/Receive (T/R) modules to improve detection, tracking and targeting performance. According to the information provided by the company, the radar configuration includes more than 980 T/R modules. The Uttam radar is expected to gradually replace the Israeli-made ELM-2052 AESA radar on later batches of Tejas fighter aircraft.
Astra Microwave has been the production partner for the Active Antenna Array Unit of the Uttam radar. The company had earlier indicated that discussions with HAL were at an advanced stage, with a formal order expected during the July–September 2026 period. The contract has now been finalized within that timeframe.
The new order significantly strengthens Astra Microwave's order pipeline. As of 31 March 2026, the company's standalone order book stood at approximately ₹2,141 crore. The HAL contract substantially increases that order book and provides multi-year revenue visibility through a strategic indigenous defence programme.
The contract also supports HAL's production ramp-up of the Uttam AESA radar for integration into Indian Air Force Tejas fighter aircraft and aligns with India's ongoing efforts to increase indigenous content in military aviation systems.
For Astra Microwave, the order represents an expansion of its role in the country's defence manufacturing ecosystem. By supplying core radar hardware for the Tejas programme under a long-term execution schedule, the company will support the production of one of India's key indigenous airborne sensor systems over the next five years.
——— End of Article ———
