DRDO (LRDE) Releases RFP to Select DcPP for Virupaksha AESA Radar for Su-30MKI Upgrade Program

India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has officially released a Request for Proposal (RFP) to onboard a Development-cum-Production Partner (DcPP) for the Virupaksha AESA radar, an advanced combat radar system designed for the Su-30MKI upgrade program.

The RFP was issued by Electronics and Radar Development Establishment (LRDE), a key DRDO lab based in Bengaluru, which is responsible for designing and developing the radar system. The invitation marks a critical phase in the radar’s journey from prototype to serial production and reflects India’s intent to significantly boost indigenous capabilities in defense electronics.

Next-Gen Radar for India’s Workhorse Fighter

The Virupaksha radar is a state-of-the-art Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar intended to replace the Russian-origin N011M Bars radar currently used on Su-30MKI jets. This transition to a more powerful and versatile radar system is part of the broader Super Sukhoi upgrade initiative, which aims to keep India’s most numerous fighter aircraft relevant against emerging aerial threats.

Unlike traditional mechanically scanned radars, AESA radars like Virupaksha employ hundreds of tiny transmit-receive modules that electronically steer radar beams at lightning speed, offering improved target tracking, multi-target engagement, resistance to jamming, and high-resolution mapping for strike missions.

Notably, the radar uses Gallium Nitride (GaN)-based T/R modules, which are more energy-efficient and capable of operating at higher temperatures, giving the system longer range and durability in combat conditions.

India’s Push for Self-Reliance

The decision to induct a private or public sector partner through the DcPP model is in line with the Indian government’s Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) initiative. The selected partner will work alongside LRDE in refining the radar for production, scaling manufacturing, and integrating the system onto Su-30MKI airframes, beginning with flight test platforms under the IAF.

Sources suggest that over 150 Su-30MKIs are likely to be retrofitted with the radar in the coming decade, making it one of the most significant indigenous radar production efforts ever undertaken in India.

A Broader Upgrade Program

The radar is only one part of the Super Sukhoi package, which includes upgrades to avionics, mission computers, electronic warfare (EW) suites, new cockpit displays, and integration of indigenous weapons like the Astra Mk2, Rudram anti-radiation missiles, and smart glide bombs. Together, these upgrades are expected to transform the Su-30MKI into a significantly more lethal and survivable platform.

Flight testing of the radar is expected to begin by 2026, with limited series production possibly starting around 2028, pending successful trials and certification.

A Strategic Leap in Radar Technology

With the Virupaksha AESA radar, India joins a select group of nations capable of developing and manufacturing fighter-grade AESA radars, a field traditionally dominated by the US, Russia, France, and Israel. The system will allow Indian engineers to incorporate custom features suited to subcontinental conditions, including low-observable target detection, terrain-following strike profiles, and highly adaptive ECCM capabilities.

This project is also expected to create spin-off benefits for other platforms, including future unmanned combat aircraft, naval fighters, and surveillance systems.