Article Posted on : - Jun 02, 2011

A file photo.

NEW DELHI (PTI): To enhance its air defence capabilities along the Pakistan border, the Indian Air Force on Friday will induct an indigenous medium-power radar at Naliya air base in Gujarat.

Developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), 'Arudhra' medium-power radar would be commissioned by IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal (ACM) P V Naik on the sidelines of three day-long Commander's Conference of South Western Air Command (SWAC), IAF officials said here.

This state-of-the-art radar is being inducted to strengthen air defence capabilities in the Surashtara-Kutch region as part of radar upgradation, and forms an important component in IAF's plan to achieve network centric operations, they said.

The Gujarat coastline has several economically important installations and the new radar will help in extending their security.

India has been upgrading its air-defence capabilities along its frontiers with both China and Pakistan. It has acquired systems such as AWACS and the Aerostat radars to keep an eye on the activities of its adversaries.

It is also on a lookout for new age surface-to-air missiles of different ranges to replace its Russian origin OSA-AK and Pechora missiles.

The IAF has significantly improved its air defence capabilities by acquiring the Integrated Air Command and Control Systems (IACCS) and connecting all of its modern as well as legacy radars under one single grid.