Developed in collaboration with the Defence Research and Development Organisation’s (DRDO) LRDE laboratory, the SWATHI WLR is a critical asset for the Indian Army, designed to accurately detect and track enemy artillery positions. The radar enhances operational capabilities by enabling precise counter-artillery strikes in real-time.
At a ceremony held in Bengaluru, Brigadier RR Yadav, Commandant of the Central Ordnance Depot (COD)-Agra, received the symbolic key to the final unit from a 12-radar order placed by the Indian Army in March 2023. The event was attended by senior military officials, including Major General Vikram Taneja, VSM, Additional Director General, Ordnance Services (B), and Rajnish Sharma, Director of BEL’s Bangalore Complex. Hemalatha BJ, General Manager (Military Radar) at BEL-Bangalore, officiated the handover, with representatives from the Indian Army, DRDO, and BEL present.
Bharat Electronics has been supplying both variants of the WLR—suitable for plains and mountainous terrains—since 2015. The radar’s real-time tracking capabilities provide the Indian Army with a strategic advantage by swiftly identifying and countering enemy artillery threats.
With over 85% indigenous content, the SWATHI WLR is a testament to India's commitment to self-sufficiency in defence production. It aligns with the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, incorporating components from a robust domestic supply chain, including contributions from Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). Each unit has undergone rigorous testing and met stringent performance standards before delivery.
Beyond domestic deployments, the SWATHI WLR has garnered interest from international buyers, with successful exports to friendly nations. This highlights India's growing capabilities in designing and manufacturing advanced military technologies that meet global defence requirements.
Bharat’s timely delivery of the latest batch of WLRs reinforces its role as a key player in India’s defence sector, supporting the nation’s strategic objectives of military modernization and self-reliance.