Data Patterns (India) Ltd announced that while the hardware for its HAWK-I airborne Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar is fully complete, the project now faces a critical software integration phase. The advanced Gallium Nitride (GaN) based radar is intended for the Indian Air Force's MiG-29 and Su-30MKI fighter jet fleets.
The primary challenge is developing the necessary software to operate the radar on the specific aircraft platforms after a planned third-party software acquisition did not proceed. The company is now in high-level discussions with India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the original Russian aircraft manufacturers to find a solution and move the project toward crucial flight testing and certification.