India’s indigenous Arudhra radar has come into focus amid discussions about whether modern air-defence systems can detect advanced stealth aircraft such as the F-35. Developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Arudhra is a medium-power Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar that forms an important part of India’s expanding surveillance architecture.
The radar is designed for long-range airspace surveillance and target tracking, offering 360-degree coverage and the ability to monitor multiple aerial threats simultaneously. It is being deployed as part of the Indian Air Force’s integrated air-defence network.
While no official confirmation has been made that Arudhra can reliably track operational F-35 aircraft, defence analysts note that modern radar systems, networked sensors, airborne early-warning platforms, and multi-layered surveillance architectures can improve the detection of stealth targets.
The radar highlights India’s growing indigenous defence capabilities and its efforts to strengthen situational awareness against emerging aerial threats. Arudhra is expected to complement other systems such as Netra AEW&C aircraft and future long-range surveillance radars currently being inducted by the Indian Air Force.
As stealth technologies continue to evolve, India’s investment in advanced radar and sensor networks is seen as a key component of its future air-defence strategy.
