The Indian Space Research Organization will test the indigenously-built, multi-object tracking radar (MOTR) on a rocket flight next month.
The MOTR can track 10 objects up to 30cm by 30cm simultaneously at distance of 800km, giving ISRO the capacity to handle atmospheric re-entry of space modules, having a protective eye on its space assets and track space debris.
The radar was designed and developed at Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) with all components but the radome housing the radar, domestically sourced. “The Rs 245 crore MOTR can be termed as the classic example of a `Make in India` project,” said SDSC director MYS Prasad. Similar radars are valued at Rs 800 crore in the international market with only Raythaeon, Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin of the US, Thales, Canada-Europe, Elta of Israel and NEC of Japan having the capability to make them.
The radar is mainly used for defense purposes but can also be used for vertical wind profiling and at airports. The formal commissioning of the MOTR is expected to take another three months time.
