BEL delivers weapon locating radar to Indian Army ahead of schedule

New Delhi: Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), a Navratna Defence Public Sector Undertaking (PSU), on Tuesday said that it has successfully delivered the 49th unit of the Weapon Locating Radar (WLR-Plains) – SWATHI to the Indian Army ahead of schedule. The radar, developed indigenously in collaboration with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) laboratory LRDE, marks another significant milestone in India's defence self-reliance efforts.

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Brigadier RR Yadav, Commandant, Central Ordnance Depot (COD)-Agra, received the symbolic key of the final unit from the latest order of 12 WLRs placed by the Indian Army in March 2023. The handover was conducted by Hemalatha BJ, General Manager (Military Radar), BEL-Bangalore, in the presence of Maj Gen Vikram Taneja, VSM, Additional Director General, Ordnance Services (B), and Rajnish Sharma, Director (Bangalore Complex). Senior officials from the 509 Army Base Workshop, senior DRDO scientists, and officers from the Indian Army and BEL attended the ceremony at COD-Agra.

Since 2015, BEL has received multiple orders for both variants of the WLR—designed for plains and mountainous terrain—further strengthening the Indian Army’s operational capabilities. WLR SWATHI plays a crucial role in enhancing combat effectiveness by detecting and locating hostile artillery weapons in real time with high accuracy, enabling precise counter-strikes.

The SWATHI WLR, a joint initiative of BEL and DRDO’s radar development house LRDE, has been a force multiplier for the Indian Army. With over 85% indigenous content, the radar underscores the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative by leveraging a robust supply chain within the country, including contributions from Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). The radar has consistently surpassed performance benchmarks and successfully completed rigorous acceptance tests before delivery.

In addition to its deployment by the Indian Army, the WLR has also attracted international attention, leading to exports to friendly nations. This reflects India’s growing capabilities in designing and manufacturing advanced defence systems that meet global standards.

BEL continues to play a pivotal role in India’s defence manufacturing ecosystem, reinforcing its commitment to indigenous innovation and self-reliance in critical military technologies.

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