Industrial Innovations

Active phased array radars are being used in ground based, ship borne and airborne roles for long rage surveillance and tracking. The Active Phased Array technology with both Gas and Si devices overcomes inefficiencies like losses in power dividing/combing field network of conventional passive phased array, and improves reliability using T/R microwave modules. The technology also significantly improves power efficiency, low side lobes, and adaptive null placement to counter jamming. DRDO has developed the microwave T/R modules element for an active phased array using indigenous technology. T/R module uses a hybrid Microwave Integrated Circuit (MIC) and Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuit (MMIC) for Transmit and Receive chains. Both Transmit and Receive chains are super-components on two soft ceramic microwave laminates, packed compactly in a single housing.