IAF Contracts Astra Rafael Comsys for ₹275 Crore in Advanced Software Defined Radios Deployment
The Indian Air Force (IAF) has awarded a contract valued at approximately ₹275 crore to Hyderabad-based Astra Rafael Comsys (ARC) for the provision and integration of advanced Software Defined Radios (SDRs). This move is a significant advancement for indigenous defense electronics and secure military communications.
This order represents a crucial enhancement to the IAF's airborne communication systems, aligning with its broader goals of modernization and network-centric warfare.
Modernizing MiG-29s and Strengthening Tejas Mk-1A
The contract entails two significant components. First, ARC will upgrade the current MiG-29 fighter jets of the IAF with state-of-the-art SDR systems, boosting the communication capabilities of these older yet effective aircraft.
Additionally, the firm will supply 24 SDR units for the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk-1A, which is central to the IAF's strategy to replace the MiG-21 Bison fleet. These radios will ensure that the Tejas Mk-1A adheres to the standards of modern 4.5-generation combat communication from the beginning.
Why Software Defined Radios Matter
Unlike traditional hardware radios, SDRs utilize software to execute core communication tasks such as modulation, demodulation, and signal processing. This provides exceptional flexibility, allowing aircraft to dynamically switch frequencies, waveforms, and protocols in challenging environments.
Defense officials remarked that the SDRs will:
| Enable seamless interoperability between air, land, and naval forces |
| Support real-time voice, data, and video transmission |
| Enhance secure, encrypted communications in high-threat airspace |
| Allow rapid capability upgrades through software updates without hardware replacement |
These features are integral to contemporary C4I (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Intelligence) frameworks and network-centric warfare.
Indo-Israeli Joint Venture and ‘Make in India’
Astra Rafael Comsys is a collaboration between India’s Astra Microwave Products Limited and Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defence Systems. Based in Hyderabad, ARC operates India’s first private-sector facility dedicated to manufacturing military-grade SDRs.
The program benefits from technology transfer from Rafael, promoting high levels of indigenization and diminishing reliance on foreign avionics. Officials highlighted that indigenous content in Tejas Mk-1A communication systems is anticipated to surpass 60%, reinforcing the Atmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives.
Strategic and Economic Impact
The introduction of SDRs will markedly boost the IAF's capacity to counter technologically advanced adversaries, including China’s J-10 and Pakistan’s JF-17. For the MiG-29 fleet, this upgrade maintains its operational relevance, while for Tejas Mk-1A, it ensures a future-ready communications framework.
Economically, the ₹275 crore contract bolsters Hyderabad’s burgeoning defense manufacturing sector, generating skilled jobs in engineering, R&D, and advanced electronics, while supporting a broader MSME supply chain.
Looking Ahead
Defense analysts suggest that this contract could lead to broader SDR adoption across the IAF, potentially extending to platforms such as the Su-30MKI, Rafale, and the future Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), thereby establishing a standardized, secure communication framework across the force.
The agreement highlights the expanding role of India’s private defense sector in delivering critical, high-tech capabilities and signifies another step towards a robust, future-proof aerial command and control network for the Indian Air Force.
