Firefinder in R-Day parade

When the Kargil conflict ended, it was found that the Army8217;s surveillance and target acquisition SATA capability was inadequate. The purchase of these radars along with unmanned Drones was the government8217;s natural recourse. In the bargain, it marked the end of US sanctions and was New Delhi8217;s first defence purchase from Washington in four decades. Since its induction, the radar has been on low-profile deployment in J-K.

Capt Kaushik Sahoo of the 201 SATA Battery led the radar through the parade today. Not as obviously impressive as the other weapons on display, the Firefinder 8212; India should have 12 by year-end 8212; works in a seemingly simple manner, but is governed on the inside by extremely complex radar physics and designation algorithms. It tracks incoming shells or rockets for a few seconds and locates the source. This information is instantly fed into battery positions for counter-fire.

India8217;s flagship ALH Dhruv helicopter was absent because HAL reversed their grounding too late.