Make in India Betrayed? 5 Shocking Reasons HAL Picked Israeli Radar Over DRDO’s Game-Changer

HAL’s decision to abandon DRDO’s indigenous Uttam radar and electronic warfare suite for the final 43 Tejas Mk1A jets, opting instead for Israeli imports, strikes a significant blow to India’s defence indigenisation goals. While HAL cites certification delays and delivery pressures as justification, DRDO asserts its Uttam radar is certified and proposes viable interim solutions. This move exposes a critical gap between developing advanced indigenous technology and the institutional confidence and patience required to integrate it into operational platforms.

Choosing proven foreign systems over homegrown alternatives – especially when the latter demonstrate capable performance praised by the IAF – risks perpetuating dependency and undermines the strategic imperative for sovereign control over critical combat systems. The controversy highlights the complex challenge of balancing immediate operational deadlines with the long-term national security need for true technological autonomy beyond assembly-line “Make in India.” Resolving this requires stronger commitment and collaboration between developers, manufacturers, and certifiers.

Make in India Betrayed? 5 Shocking Reasons HAL Picked Israeli Radar Over DRDO’s Game-Changer

The triumphant narrative of Operation Sindoor, showcasing India’s indigenous military capability, faces an abrupt counterpoint. News that Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has opted for Israeli ELTA radar and electronic warfare (EW) systems for the final 43 LCA Tejas Mk1A fighter jets, abandoning plans for DRDO’s Uttam AESA radar and Swayam Raksha Kavach (SRK) EW suite, isn’t just a procurement shift. It’s a litmus test for the depth and resilience of India’s defence indigenisation vision. 

The Promise vs. The Pivot: 

• The Commitment: In the landmark 2021 deal for 83 Mk1A jets (worth Rs 48,000 crore), HAL explicitly committed to integrating the indigenous Uttam radar and SRK EW suite starting from the 41st aircraft. 

• The Reversal: By March 2025, HAL executed a U-turn. Citing delays in certification by the Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification (CEMILAC), they chose to extend the contract with ELTA for the entire batch, sidelining the DRDO systems developed over 15+ years. 

The Competing Narratives: Why the Switch? 

• HAL’s Stance: The Pressure of Delivery. 

• With not a single Mk1A delivered against the original February 2024 schedule, HAL prioritizes meeting deadlines. Their core argument: CEMILAC hasn’t fully certified the DRDO systems for production, making them unusable now. 

• They portray it as a pragmatic necessity to get jets to the Indian Air Force (IAF). 

• DRDO’s Counter: Progress Ignored, Potential Undermined. 

• Radar Readiness: DRDO officials point out CEMILAC did certify the Uttam radar for production in 2024. It completed four phases of flight trials, hardware qualification, and even received a CEMILAC recommendation (April 2025) to start subsystem production. 

• EW Suite Hurdles: Delays in the SRK EW suite are acknowledged, attributed partly to a lack of dedicated test aircraft (unlike the two Mk1A prototypes provided to foreign vendors). 

• Missed Compromise: DRDO proposed a viable interim: integrate the certified Uttam radar with imported EW systems until the SRK suite was ready. HAL rejected this. 

• The Core Grievance: Scientists see this as a lack of institutional faith and patience, undermining years of effort and strategic autonomy. As former DRDO scientist Ravi Gupta highlights, indigenous control over source code and supply chains is non-negotiable for wartime security. 

The Uttam Radar: More Than Just Hardware 

The decision isn’t merely about substituting one box for another. The Uttam AESA radar represents a significant technological leap: 

• Advanced Capability: Electronically scanned (AESA) for faster target tracking, superior jamming resistance, and the ability to track ~50 targets beyond 100km while engaging four simultaneously – performance reportedly praised by IAF leadership. 

• Strategic Sovereignty: Unlike imported systems, Uttam offers complete control over maintenance, upgrades, and security vulnerabilities – crucial during conflicts when foreign support may waver. 

• Ecosystem Catalyst: Its development involved multiple DRDO labs, Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), and other Indian partners, building critical domestic capacity. 

The Real Insight: Navigating the Indigenisation Chasm 

This episode exposes the complex, often painful, realities of building a self-reliant defence industry: 

• The “Valley of Death”: Bridging the gap between successful R&D (Uttam’s development) and serial production integration is notoriously difficult. It requires immense patience, risk-sharing, and unwavering commitment from all stakeholders (DRDO, HAL, IAF, MoD). HAL’s decision suggests this commitment fractured under delivery pressure. 

• Institutional Trust Deficit: The differing narratives highlight a concerning disconnect. Does HAL genuinely lack confidence in DRDO’s ability to deliver certified systems on time for the later jets, or is it prioritizing short-term deliverable certainty over long-term strategic goals? The withdrawal of Uttam from the Rafale Marine deal adds to this pattern. 

• The IAF’s Pivotal Role: While the IAF has expressed confidence in Uttam’s performance, its ultimate acceptance and advocacy for indigenous systems during the integration phase are critical. Their operational needs are paramount, but balancing immediate requirements with fostering long-term capability is the challenge. 

• Beyond Slogans: “Make in India” demands more than assembly. It requires nurturing core technologies like AESA radars and advanced EW systems. Opting for imports when a viable indigenous alternative exists (even partially, as with the radar) risks perpetuating dependency and stifling the very ecosystem India aims to build. 

The Path Ahead: More Than Just Radars 

The coming weeks will determine if HAL’s decision is final. However, the implications extend far beyond 43 radar sets: 

• Signal to the Ecosystem: Will domestic defence R&D investments seem like high-risk gambles if even certified systems struggle for adoption? 

• Strategic Vulnerability: Can India afford to rely on foreign critical combat systems indefinitely? 

• Reforming the Process: This underscores the need for better synchronisation between R&D agencies, production units, certifying authorities, and end-users. Dedicated test resources and more flexible integration pathways are essential. 

• National Resolve: Achieving true defence indigenisation requires weathering technical setbacks and schedule pressures without abandoning strategic objectives. It demands a collective, unwavering resolve that prioritizes long-term sovereignty over short-term convenience. 

HAL’s choice is a stark reminder. Building a self-reliant defence industry isn’t just about “making” things; it’s about the courage to use what you make, even when the path is challenging. The true test of “Make in India” lies not in the workshops during peacetime, but in the tough decisions made under pressure to secure India’s combat edge for the future.