Shore based Radar system snippets

The pilot project on installation of shore-based radar system on Indian coastline to beef up external security has now reached a crucial stage after three months of its trials in Gujarat. If the remaining few deficiencies in it are removed then in all likelihood the shorebased radar system will be ready to be installed along the Indian coast by year-end. The government of India had decided to install shore-based radar system after the attack on Mumbai from the sea on 26/11 by Pakistani terrorists. The system will help identify ships and boats and capture their images up to 80 km from the shore even when poor visibility condition prevailed during night and amid inclement weather. Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), a public sector unit which is developing the system, is conducting trials of the pilot project at two lighthouses in Nabhadra and Dwarka in Gujarat. As part of the project, BEL engineers have set up huge frames on the two lighthouses. A high resolution electric optical system — camera — is also a component of the shore-based radar system. A control room has been set up at Porbandar station of Indian Coast Guard, which monitors the functioning of the system, which is capable of tracking the vessels of varied sizes and catch visuals with great details. Any number of moving vessels will be on the radar screen and anyone or anything that looked suspicious will be snapped with its minute details by the camera. Commander, Coast Guard region (North-West), Inspector General Satya Sharma, a communication system expert,said “The shore-based radar system when installed will improve the surveillance system. It will help us to physically scan the entire coast and spare some workload on the Coast Guard aircraft and ships which can be then used for a role as interceptors also. Though the trials of the pilot project are still on and satisfactory, Coast Guard has sought improvement in its certain features and in its range.”