Bharat Electronics Ltd. FALL OVER 2 PERCENT

Shares of Bharat Electronics were trading in the red on October 22 after the defence ministry signed a Rs 770-crore contract with the state-run defence electronics manufacturer for improved low-level lightweight radars (LLLR-I) that can detect and track fighter jets as well as mini and micro drones. The contract is aimed at plugging critical gaps in the Indian Army's air defence network at low altitudes. The Ministry of Defence said the LLLR-I system can detect and track fighter-size targets and mini and micro drones, with the additional capability of prioritising aerial targets. This will enable the Army to counter threats from unmanned aerial systems. The LLLR-I is an upgraded version of the Aslesha radar, designed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation's Electronics and Radar Development Establishment and produced by BEL. While the Aslesha is an S-band 3D radar with a semi-active array antenna, the upgraded system uses four fixed phased-array panels based on gallium nitride active electronically scanned array technology to provide 360-degree coverage without moving parts. Digital beam-forming and 3D processing allow the radar to detect small drones with a low radar cross-section (RCS). It can track targets while scanning and feed data to weapon systems through wired and wireless links. The system is man-portable and can be deployed in the plains, deserts and high-altitude areas.