Swathi Weapon Locating Radar

The Swathi Weapon Locating Radar is a mobile artillery-locating phased array radar developed by India. This counter-battery radar is designed to detect and track incoming artillery and rocket fire to determine the point of origin for counter-battery fire.

Performance:

Weapon Locating Range -

81mm Mortars - 2 to 20 km

105mm Howitzers - 2 to 30 km

Unguided Rockets - 2 to 40 km

Adjustment of Fire Range

Mortars - 20km

155mm Guns and Rockets - 30km

Firing Angles - Both High and Low.

Aspect Angles - 0° to 180°.

Simultaneous Target Track - 7.

Time taken for deployment - 30 minutes

Time taken for slewing - 135° in 30 seconds.

Probability of Detection - 0.9

Swathi is a coherent, C Band, passive electronically scanned phased array radar. Intended to be used as weapon locating radar, it has been designed to automatically detect and track incoming artillery rounds, mortar and rockets, and locate the hostile launchers. As a secondary function it can observe friendly artillery shell’s trajectory to see where they fall short and provide fire corrections to counter the enemy fire.

The biggest technological challenge in the design of Swathi lied in achieving high probability of location for all calibers of projectiles having very low radar cross section (RCS) both for high and low angle fire. This was addressed by a complex array design and stringent algorithms which makes the radar capable enough to work effectively even under severe clutter and high density fire environment.

The WLR is designed for quick deployment and decamp, and can be ready for action within 30 minutes. In case of any incoming threats, the radar can be quickly moved out of the threat area. The Radar is designed to operate in harsh environments ranging from -20 to +55°C, in hot and humid conditions, and can be safely stored from -40 to +70°C. It can operate at high altitudes up to 16,000 feet (4,900 m). Shock & vibration performance and resistance to EMI/EMC are according to international military standards.

DRDO officially handed over the WLR Swathi to Indian Army on 2nd March, 2017 for service induction.Currently, the radar is using passive array but efforts are going on to upgrade it with active array to enhance performance and reliability. As well as a long range enhanced version and a compact version for mountainous regions is in pipeline. 28 radars are on order it is believed that around 40 to 50 are needed.

Users:

India:  28 on order 

Armenia: 4 on order