Israeli Radar for India’s LCA?

India is seeking to buy an EL/M-2052 active electronically scanned array radar from Israel’s Elta for its Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), after efforts to develop a radar failed, Indian Defence Research and De­velopment Organisation (DRDO) sources said. The aircraft’s developer, the Bangalore-based Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), also is seeking a foreign firm to advise it about the flight tests. ADA is offering a two-part contract for 18 months of work leading up to initial operational clearance, and 24 months of work leading to final operational clearance.LCA prototypes have already flown about 600 test flights, one ADA official said. The single-seat, single-engine, supersonic LCA will soon begin weapons integration work, and the aim is to achieve initial operational clearance with the EL/M-2052 radar aboard.A DRDO team flew to Israel within the past two weeks, hoping to secure the radar in time to have it aboard the under-development LCA by next year, Indian Defence Ministry sources said.The radar will allow the LCA to detect, lock onto and pass information about 64 targets to the plane’s mission computer.Since 1991, India has spent more than $50 million to develop a Multi Mode Radar, which was originally to have been designed by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) and the DRDO for service beginning in 1998.The LCA program was launched in 1983. ADA is leading the development with help from HAL.

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