Virupaksha is an indigenous, high-power gallium-nitride (GaN) active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar developed by DRDO’s LRDE as a larger, higher-power derivative of the Uttam radar family, sized to fit the Su-30MKI’s nose radome and selected to replace the fleet’s Russian-origin mechanically-scanned N011M Bars radar.[1]
As Uttam matured on the Tejas Mk1A programme, LRDE scaled the same GaN AESA design philosophy into a larger-aperture radar for India’s Su-30MKI fleet, whose ageing Bars passive/mechanically-scanned radar is increasingly outmatched by newer AESA-equipped adversary fighters and modern beyond-visual-range missile threats. Virupaksha is being fielded as part of a broader Su-30MKI fleet upgrade programme valued at approximately ₹65,000 crore.[1][2]
Virupaksha uses GaN transmit/receive module technology — offering higher power density and better thermal performance than the GaAs used in baseline Uttam Mk1 — reportedly built around approximately 2,400 T/R modules, substantially more than Uttam Mk1’s ~912, reflecting the larger available nose radome volume on the twin-engine Su-30MKI compared to the single-engine Tejas.[2]
An initial batch of 84 Su-30MKI aircraft has been earmarked for the Virupaksha upgrade, with flight trials on modified airframes planned to begin around 2026 following ground evaluation and integration work. The upgrade is expected to substantially extend detection and multi-target tracking range against modern low-observable and long-range threats compared to the legacy Bars radar.[1][3]
| Type | High-power GaN-based active electronically scanned array (AESA) fire-control radar |
| Developer | LRDE, DRDO (Uttam-derivative design) |
| TRM technology | Gallium Nitride (GaN) |
| Number of T/R modules | ~2,400 (reported) |
| Target platform | Su-30MKI (replacing N011M Bars radar) |
| Programme scale | Initial 84 aircraft; ~₹65,000 crore fleet upgrade programme |
| Status (mid-2026) | Flight trials on modified airframes planned from 2026 |