Context

The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) signed a contract for the co-development and co-production of the Long Range Dual Band Infra-Red Search and Track System (IRST) for the Su-30 MKI under the MAKE-II procedure of Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020 as a part of the ‘Make in India initiative’.

About

About Infrared search and track (IRST) systems:

• Infrared search and track (IRST) systems are wide field of view surveillance systems, designed for autonomous search, detection, tracking, classification and prioritization of potential targets, passively.
• The IRST systems are getting more and more importance in air defense applications due to increased reluctance to use radar sensors because of threat of' anti-radiation missiles and dramatic increase in IR sensor performance.
• IRST systems use mid and long-wavelength IR radiation because these occur naturally and are readily transmitted through the atmosphere.
• The objects in the scene are themselves the source of the radiation.
• The atmosphere limits the choice of wavelengths for IR systems to certain bands" of the so called near, mid-wave, and longwave IR.

About Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL):

• Hindustan Aeronautics Limited is an Indian state-owned aerospace and defence company headquartered in Bangalore, India.
• Founded in
• It is governed under the management of the Indian Ministry of Defence.
• HAL as a strategic reliable partner, has been associating with ISRO for the prestigious space programs since last five decades.
• HAL has supplied critical structures, tankages, satellite structures for the PSLV, GSLV-MkII and GSLV-MkIII launch vehicle.
• Various new projects like PS2/GS2 integration, Semi-Cryo structure fabrication and manufacture of cryo and semi cryo engines are being taken up at HAL, for which setting up of necessary infrastructure and facilities is nearing completion.

About Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL):

• Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) a Navaratna PSU.
• Established in: 1954
• BEL has nine manufacturing units across India.
• The company has core competency in areas of Defence Communications, Radars & Missile Systems, Sonars & Fire Control Systems, Electronic Warfare and Avionics Systems, Network Centric Systems, Electro-Optics, Tank Electronics, Home Land Security etc.