LRDE was setup under DRDO to address the Services' needs in the field of Radars, Communication Systems and related technologies. It was born out of Technical Development Establishment (TDE) at Rawalpindi and moved to Dehradun in 1946. The TDE (Electronics) further bifurcated into two wings in 1955 and moved to Bangalore as Electronics Research and Development Establishment (LRDE) and Chief Inspectorate of Electronics (CIL) in 1958. LRDE came under DRDO on 01 Jan1958. In 1962 it was renamed as Electronics and Radar Development Establishment (LRDE) to develop Radar and Communication Systems and to meet the requirements of the Services. The responsibility of Communication Systems development was transferred to CAIR in 2001. After implementation of the Rama Rao Committee recommendations, seven clusters of labs were created in DRDO and LRDE is a part of the Electronics& Communications Systems Cluster (ECS), headed by The Director General (ECS).
The design, development and delivery of Indian Doppler Radar (INDRA) series radars for Army and Airforce was completed during the 1990s. This was followed by development of Phased Array Radar Systemsviz., Flight Level Radar & Troop Level Radar for Akash Weapon System for Indian Army and Indian Airforce. The 3D Central Acquisition Radar (3D CAR) for Akash Weapon system of IAF & Indian Army was also developed. Battle Field Surveillance Radar – Short Range (BFSR-SR) for Army, 3D Surveillance radar-ROHINI for Air Force, 3D Surveillance Radar - Revathi for Navy, 3D Tactical Control Radar (3D TCR) for Army, Low Level Light Weight Radar - BHARANI for Army, 3D Low Level Light Weight Radar - ASLESHA for Air Force, Weapon Locating Radar (WLR)- Swathifor Army have been developed and inducted. Development of Xtra Vision 2004 (XV 2004) Maritime Patrol Airborne Radar for ALH platform was completed and flight tested. Coastal Surveillance radar has been developed and deployed at Balasore area. 4D active Phased array Radars viz., Medium Power Radar- Arudhra and Low Level Transportable Radar- Ashwini for Indian Air Force have been developed for Integrated Coastal Surveillance System, trial evaluated and accepted for induction by Indian Air Force. Development and major portions of User Trials of Air Defence Fire Control Radar- Atulya have been completed. Development of Air Defence Tactical Control Radar for Army has been completed & is ready for User evaluation. Ground Penetration Radar (Hand Held & Vehicle Mounted Versions) and Through Wall Imaging radars for Paramilitary Forces for LIC operationshave been completed and ready for User Trials. Active Electronically Scanned Array Radar- Uttam for LCA and other Fighter aircraft platforms and Synthetic aperture Radar for UAV Platforms have been developed and flight trials completed. This is a true reflector of the maturity of LRDE, not only in the mastering of ground based, ship borne and airborne complex radar systems, but also in the practice of concurrent engineering &system engineering practices, R&D – Industry Partnership and development of indigenous Industry eco system for realisation of radar systems in the Country and Professional approach to Technology & Project Management. The users’ unflinching faith has transformed LRDE as a force to reckon with in the field of radars. Many radarshave now been inducted or accepted for induction by the Users. LRDE is truly the Radar House of India.
Today, LRDE is a premier Radar Systems laboratory with Core Competence and established expertise to build advanced Radar Systems, which include short to long-range radars for ground based, ship borne and air borne surveillance, tracking and weapon control. LRDE has developed many advanced radar technologies including transmit and receive modules from L to X Band, slotted waveguide array antennas, micro-strip array antennas, multi-beam antennas, high power transmitters, high purity signal sources, high bandwidth waveform generation systems, programmable signal and data processors and radar controllers. LRDE has nurtured and established a robust indigenous Industry ecosystem in the private sector for radar sub-systems manufacture in the Country, thereby giving a fillip to the AtmaNirbhar Bharat initiative of the Government Of India.
In sync with modern Project Management practices, LRDE has developed design, manufacturing, assembly, integration, and test & evaluation infrastructure to offer reliable equipment and systems to the Armed Forces. LRDE has developed a wide range of test facilities and test ranges spread overdifferent parts of the Country to meet the growing requirement of radars. State-of-the-art Environmental& EMI/EMC Test Facilities as per MIL standards, Near Field and Far field antenna test ranges in Bangalore &Kolar, Radar Test Ranges in Bangalore, Kolar, Yelahanka, Puri,Paradweep (Orissa) and Okha (Gujarat) have been established. Quality Engineering has been nurtured and promoted since the inception of the Establishment.
LRDE is an ISO 9001:2015 certified establishment with a manpower of around 700 qualified Scientists/Engineers/Technical & Administrative Staff.
Core Competencies
Today, LRDE is a premier Radar Systems laboratory with Core Competence and established expertise in:
- Advanced Radar Systems
Ground based: Short to long-range radars, Radars for Ship borne and Air borne Platforms, for Surveillance, Tracking &Weapon Control and for Space borne platforms for surveillance. - Radar System Engineering.
- Critical radar technologies like TR Modules (L to X Band), Antenna Arrays, Transmitters, Digital Receivers, Direct Digital Synthesisers (DDS), Programmable Signal & Data Processors.
- Design and Development of sub-systems for Mechanical and Electronic Scanning Antennas, High Performance Exciters and Receivers, High Power Transmitters, Digital - Signal & Data Processors, Operator Consoles and Mechanical hardware of Radar Sub-systems.
- System Integration, Testing and Evaluation.
- Radar System Integration with other entities and platforms.
- Environmental Engineering, including EMI/EMC.
- Enabling ‘Make in India’ through
- Development of Industry partners for radar sub-system realization
- TOT & Post Production support
- Obsolescence Management
- Establish indigenous Industry ecosystem in the private sector for manufacture of radar subsystems and Systems.
ISO Certificate