Indian Navy Issue RFI for a 360° AESA Radar System to Boost Gun Capabilities on Warships

The Indian Navy has initiated plans to procure a new generation of 360° Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar systems specifically designed to enhance and unify the gun control systems onboard its warships. A Request for Information (RFI) has been officially issued, inviting responses from global and domestic vendors for a radar solution that can seamlessly integrate with guns of all calibres deployed across different ship classes.

The proposed system will not only serve as a fire-control radar but is envisioned to become a core element in the Navy's move towards a unified weapon management structure—streamlining targeting, tracking, and engagement across small-calibre guns, medium-range naval artillery, and even close-in weapon systems (CIWS).

Centralized Gun Control for All-Calibre Naval Weapons

According to the RFI, the Indian Navy is looking for a system capable of delivering full 360° coverage either through rotating sensor heads or fixed panel arrays that can electronically scan the entire azimuth in real-time. This coverage is critical in a multi-threat environment where modern warships need to defend against high-speed missiles, fast attack craft, and drone swarms, often approaching simultaneously from different directions.

The new radar will be required to interface with the ship’s Combat Management System (CMS) and provide accurate data to gun fire control systems, improving both precision and reaction time. It must support multiple targeting modes and should be able to operate effectively in electronic warfare environments—a capability native to most advanced AESA technologies.

Leveraging AESA Technology for Naval Superiority

AESA radars are known for their ability to steer radar beams electronically without any moving parts, allowing for extremely fast reaction times, enhanced multi-target tracking, and high reliability. These radars are less susceptible to jamming and offer better resistance against electronic countermeasures compared to older mechanically scanned radars.

In the naval domain, such capabilities are crucial not just for air defense but also for surface-to-surface engagements, especially in littoral combat environments where threats can emerge with little warning. The Indian Navy currently employs systems like the EL/M-2248 MF-STAR on its Visakhapatnam-class destroyers and the upcoming Nilgiri-class frigates, but those radars are multi-function and primarily optimized for missile and aerial threat detection.

The new system under consideration will focus exclusively on improving gunnery effectiveness, particularly for smaller calibre guns and CIWS that form the last line of defense on a ship.

Indigenous Push Under Atmanirbhar Bharat

This development comes at a time when India is ramping up efforts to build a more self-reliant defense manufacturing ecosystem under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative. While the RFI is open to global solutions, there is significant expectation that Indian companies—both state-owned and private—will play a leading role in offering indigenous radar solutions.

Organizations like Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and DRDO’s Electronics and Radar Development Establishment (LRDE), which have already developed systems like the Uttam AESA radar for the Indian Air Force, could be prime candidates to contribute to this program. The Navy’s long-term vision involves standardizing radar and sensor systems across its fleet to simplify maintenance, training, and logistics, while also reducing dependence on foreign imports.

Strategic Implications for Naval Warfare

The implementation of such a system could drastically improve the Indian Navy’s ability to deal with asymmetric and high-speed threats. By unifying the fire control inputs across all gun systems, warships would gain faster response times, better coordination in layered defense scenarios, and reduced crew workload. This is particularly relevant in the context of future naval battles, which are expected to involve greater reliance on automation and network-centric warfare.

Moreover, the radar's capability to support both low- and medium-calibre guns makes it an ideal fit for the Indian Navy’s diverse fleet, which includes destroyers, frigates, corvettes, and amphibious vessels—many of which carry different types of artillery and defensive guns.

With the RFI stage now open, vendors will respond with their proposals, after which the Navy will likely shortlist technologies for field evaluation and prototype testing. The focus will be on modularity, integration flexibility, and indigenous content—key aspects that align with India’s long-term defense planning goals.

This move signals yet another step in the Indian Navy’s transition toward smarter, faster, and more resilient warfighting platforms capable of handling threats in increasingly complex maritime environments. A dedicated 360° AESA radar for unified gun control could soon become a standard feature on future Indian naval warships, adding another layer to India’s evolving blue water capabilities.