Ashwini (4D Low Level Transportable Radar, LLTR) is an active electronically scanned array (AESA) low-level air-surveillance radar developed by DRDO to detect and track fast, low-flying and manoeuvring threats — including cruise missiles, low-altitude strike aircraft and small UAVs — that can evade coverage from higher-mounted surveillance radars.[1]
As a 4D radar, Ashwini measures range, azimuth, elevation and velocity for every track using an active phased array, enabling superior detection and discrimination of high-speed, low-radar-cross-section, and highly manoeuvrable targets compared with older mechanically-scanned low-level radars. It provides tracking coverage to roughly 200 km against qualifying targets, and its AESA architecture allows faster revisit rates and better resistance to jamming than legacy designs.[1]
Ashwini is intended to close low-altitude coverage gaps in India’s integrated air-defence radar network, complementing higher-altitude, longer-range surveillance assets such as Arudhra and legacy IAF radars, and it has been proposed/inducted as part of the IAF’s low-level air-defence sensor modernisation.[2]
| Type | 4D active electronically scanned array (AESA) low-level transportable radar |
| Developer | DRDO (LRDE) |
| Dimensions measured | Range, azimuth, elevation, velocity (4D) |
| Detection range | ~200 km |
| Role | Low-level air surveillance; detection of low-flying, high-speed, low-RCS threats |
| User | Indian Air Force |