Amid the ongoing border dispute with China, the Indian Army has decided to buy more weapon-finding radars to gain a firm grip on its northern border. China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has been watching the border for more than two years. News agency ANI quoted sources as saying that the Army has sent a proposal to the Defense Ministry to buy 12 Made-in-India ‘Swati’ weapon-finding radars.
Made in India Swati will increase the strength of the army on the Chinese border. The radar can detect and track artillery, mortar rounds, rockets and rocket launchers within a radius of 50 km. It can track 7 targets simultaneously.
ANI reported that the Army has initiated a proposal worth around Rs 1,000 crore and it is planned to be considered in a high-level Defense Ministry meeting. Swati, jointly designed and developed by DRDO and Bharat Electronics Limited, was displayed at the 69th Republic Day Parade. These radars were given to the Indian Army for trials in 2018.
The Indian Army has been using these radars for its operations along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir. In 2020, India secured a $40 million deal to supply locally developed radar to Armenia. India is focusing on building a local defense manufacturing industry to reduce its dependence on other countries for weapons and equipment.
Earlier on May 5, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh had said that India cannot depend on imports for its safety and security. Delivering the keynote address for the 37th Air Chief Marshal PC, he said, “The recent conflicts, particularly the situation in Ukraine, have told us that not only defense supplies, but also commercial contracts are likely to be affected for national interests.”
Singh had emphasized that achieving self-reliance in the defense sector would have medium and long term benefits as it would help in building the foundation of a strong industrial base not only in the defense sector but in every sphere of industry.