New Delhi: In order to significantly secure its defences along the China front, the Indian Army plans to acquire 12 indigenously developed Swathi Weapon Locating Radars (WLRS). The Indian Army has initiated a proposal to the Defence Ministry for buying 12 ‘Swathi’ weapon-locating radars.

Swathi weapon-locating radars provide fast, automatic and accurate location of enemy weapons like mortars, shells and rockets within 50-kilometre range. The Army has been using the radars for its operations along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir. The Swathi WLRS will help the forces to know the exact location of the artillery guns fired by the enemy, according to government sources. The radar can also simultaneously handle multiple projectiles fired from different weapons at different locations. Knowing the location of enemy weapons such as artillery guns enables the Army to launch a counter-strike to take them out.

The Swathi radars, which have been developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation and built by Bharat Electronics Limited, will likely cost around Rs.1000 crores if the acquisition is cleared by a high-level Defence Ministry meeting.  According to reports, the Swathi Weapon Locating Radars were supplied to Armenia as well.

The acquisition of Indian made weapons systems as part of the Atmanirbhar Bharat project has been prioritised by the Defence Ministry in a bid to cut down on imports while developing a domestic eco-system for high-tech weapons manufacture. The proposal is expected to come up for approval by the Defence ministry at an upcoming important meeting. In addition, a major push is also expected in small arms as the planned orders for foreign assault rifles are now going to be given to Indian vendors who have made significant developments in this field.