DRDO develops indigenous radome for LCA Tejas Mk1A | Pune News
Pune: The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed an indigenous radome for the light combat aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk1A, paving the way for replacing imported radomes currently used on the fighter aircraft.The technology, developed by the Research and Development Establishment (Engineers) [R&DE(E)], Pune, has successfully met all structural, mechanical and electromagnetic performance requirements and is now ready for transfer to industry for production.“We are in the process of conducting flight trials. This will be the final assesment, but the crucial thing is that our technology has met all requirements of the IAF during multiple evaluation trials,” a senior DRDO official told TOI.The radome, which forms the nose section of the aircraft, houses the fighter’s radar antenna and is a critical component that protects the radar from harsh environmental conditions while ensuring minimal interference with radar performance. Any degradation in the radome’s electromagnetic characteristics can significantly affect the radar’s detection and tracking capability.The indigenous radome has been specifically developed for the LCA Mk1A, whose production is currently underway to meet the Indian Air Force’s requirement.Officials said the fighter is equipped with an advanced radar system that demands a high-performance radome capable of maintaining structural integrity while remaining electromagnetically transparent.“The technology has been developed to eliminate dependence on imported radomes and support the growing production of the LCA Mk1A. It complies with all mechanical and electrical requirements specified for the aircraft’s operating environment,” DRDO officials said.Designed as a conical composite structure with variable thickness, the radome is integrated with the aircraft’s front fuselage through a bolted metallic interface ring. It incorporates provisions for mounting the nose air data probe (NADP) and features a lightning protection system compliant with military standards.“One of the key achievements of the programme is the use of advanced composite materials and indigenous manufacturing processes. The radome has been built using a monolithic fibre-reinforced polymer composite structure with quartz fibre reinforcement and cyanate ester resin matrix. It has been manufactured using the resin film infusion (RFI) process, which enables high structural quality and dimensional accuracy,” added the officials.To ensure survivability under operational conditions, the radome has been designed to withstand aerodynamic and inertia loads experienced during flight, besides impact from bird and hail strikes.“Its outer surface has been coated with an electromagnetic-transparent anti-static paint that also provides rain erosion resistance, a crucial requirement for sustained fighter operations,” added the officials.The radome also incorporates diverter strips for lightning protection, ensuring safe operation of the aircraft’s sensitive radar and avionics during adverse weather conditions.The availability of a domestically developed radome is expected to reduce import dependence, strengthen the supply chain for the LCA Mk1A programme and provide long-term support for future variants of the Tejas fighter.“With production of LCA Mk1A gathering pace and additional orders expected in the coming years, the indigenous radome technology is likely to play a key role in ensuring uninterrupted manufacturing while enhancing India’s capability in advanced aerospace composite technologies, “ a senior IAF officer said.For India, the indigenous radome represents another strategic step in reducing dependence on foreign suppliers for critical aerospace technologies.Beyond Tejas Mk1A, the expertise developed through this programme could support future platforms, including Tejas Mk2, advanced medium combat aircraft (AMCA) and other airborne surveillance systems requiring specialised composite radomes.
