Overview of Military Transmitter & Receiver (T/R) Module
The most recent event that has made countries across the world reinstate their faith in the power of the military must be the Russia-Ukaraine War. The devastation caused by the war has certainly made the military seek genuine upgradation in terms of the technology they own. Now that the world knows about the repercussions of a meager communication system, it becomes extremely crucial to opt for advanced radio technology for carrying out operations securely and effectively.
Since National Security has always been the primary concern for every nation, the thorough understanding and effective interaction with radio frequencies(RF) could prove to be a game changer, be it communication systems or radar equipment. The transmission & receiving of radio frequency signals aid in numerous military applications such as radar homing & jamming, communication, electronic warfare, etc., which can be done using wireless remote control modules called Transmitter & Receiver (T/R) Modules.
Military Transmitter & Receiver (T/R) Module in Global Market
Although Transmitter & Receiver (T/R) Module is not a new frontier in the military, it is paramount to make it go through constant upgradation. Its numerous applications, such as radar, infrared communications, and electronic warfare, have witnessed advancement. Delving into the market, it is noteworthy that Radar has been winning the race with the highest revenue shares. What has made it acquire the top position is the increased requirement for radars in all of the military domains for situational awareness & increasingly higher reliance on military platforms on various categories of radars, cites Markntel Advisors in its recent research report, Military Transmitter & Receiver (T/R) Module Market: Forecast (2023-2028). Moving further, let us have a look what companies are coming up with strengthen military across the world.
- In 2023, The FA-18 Super Hornet and EA-18 Growler aircraft’s AESA radars were upgraded, according to US announcements. In addition, Raytheon will supply each AN/APG-79 for both aircraft in the upcoming years.
- Again, Northrop Grumman revealed the development of a next-generation radar F35 fighter jet (5th generation fighter). The AN/APG-85 AESA radar is expected to replace the existing AN/APG-81 AESA radar and serve the air force with an advanced fire control suite and an advanced electronic warfare suite.
- In the same year, Lithuania National Radio and Television raised $14 million to buy radars for the Ukrainian military. The organization claims that radars would be essential for safeguarding infrastructure, including power plants, water towers, many civic & military institutions, etc.
- In April 2023, The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) remarks a milestone by delivering the first SHIP prototype devices. With two of its prototypes, Intel’s Multi-Chip Package (MCP-1) for SHIP Digital and Qorvo’s Multi-Chip Module (MCM-1) for SHIP Radio Frequency (RF), the State-of-the-Art (SOTA) Heterogeneous Integrated Packaging (SHIP) made received.
- In November 2022, In a bid to strengthen the current Radar systems, Turkey unveiled its domestic AESA (active electronically scanned array) radar, called MURAD, which is considered to be the most advanced among the existing ones. The radar is likely to be integrated with AKINCI UCAV and then will be used for F-16s and National Combat Aircraft (MMU).
- At the Zhuhai Air Show in 2022, China Electronics Technology Group (CETC) displayed its brand-new SLC-18 radar. The radar systems can track a constellation of satellites at any given moment, providing the military with a powerful shield in any conceivable circumstance.
- In the same year, the Philippines’ government stated that it would buy three Japanese air surveillance radars. The purchase of the Horizon 2 Surveillance radar, with a total cost of USD 103.5 million, would assist the Philippines in achieving real-time situational awareness in its airspace.
- At DefEXpo 2022, DRDO’s LRDE showcased the upgraded Uttam AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array) Fire Control Radar (FCR) with a 912 TR module. In addition, the mig-29 K program and Tejas Mk2 program of the Indian Navy is all set to be catered to by the UTTAM Mk2 program. The integration of indigenously developed Uttam AESA radar is to be done into the Tejas LCA fighter. The Cabinet Committee announced USD 1.4 billion for the development of Mark 2, which is expected to integrate the upcoming radar systems.
- In Feb 2021, Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) manufactured T/R (transmit/receive) modules for the RBE2 radar on the Dassault Aviation Rafale and supplied them to Thales. This aligned its commitment to the Make in India policy under the Rafale India contract. In the previous year, Thales notably delivered the first RBE2 AESA (active electronic scanning array) radar to Dassault Aviation with the help of BEL. Bharat Electronics made this possible by aiding the production of a front end of the radar, which called for implementing rigorous processes at its Bangalore facility.
Final Remarks
With a substantial number of military powers investing in new and upgraded technologies, especially radars, it is evident that communication devices or modules have remained one of the prominent pillars of defense. With rising investment and enhancing situational awareness, more advanced military transmitter & receiver (T/R) modules are emerging and finding applications in the defense industry, including radar transceivers, spectrum monitoring, and electronic warfare.
