Enabling High-Altitude Deployment of the Rohini Radar System
- Apr 27
- 2 min read
Client: Indian Air Force
Sector: Defence – Mobile Radar Systems
CRA Role: Concept Development, R&D, Engineering, Manufacturing, Qualification & Deployment
Platform: Rohini Mobile Radar System
Overview
When the Rohini radar platform faced performance failure at high altitudes, the Indian Air Force required more than a hardware retrofit — they needed an engineered solution.
CRA was tasked with diagnosing the operational gap and developing a full-stack solution: from problem identification, testing, and R&D, to system design, fabrication, and qualification.
The result was a pressurization and environmental control system that now enables the Rohini radar to operate reliably across altitude extremes, without structural modifications to the vehicle platform.
The Challenge
Undefined problem: The radar system experienced altitude-related failures, but root causes, thresholds, and integration requirements were initially undefined.
System-level intervention: The solution had to preserve the existing radar architecture and maintain mission-critical uptime, with no major vehicle rework.
High operational standards: Any solution had to comply with Defence-grade operational, environmental, and safety norms and withstand field deployment stresses.
Our Solution
CRA built the solution from the ground up:
Root Cause Analysis and R&D
Field testing and environmental simulation to isolate failure modes
Thermal modelling, gas dynamics, and operational pressure simulations
System Design
Pressurization architecture including dedicated compressor and chiller units
Passive ventilation bypasses for sea-level operations
Safety systems with solenoid vents, manual relief, and automated shutdowns
Manufacturing & Assembly
In-house production of all structural, fluid, and electrical subsystems
Modular, quick-connect architecture for field maintainability
Qualification and Integration
Test planning and execution under IAF oversight
Full vehicle integration with non-invasive mounting
Operational validation across simulated altitudes and environmental conditions
Results
Problem solved from first principles to field deployment
Stable radar operation at both sea level and high-altitude conditions
Zero permanent structural changes to the vehicle cabin
Full Defence QA-compliant traceability and documentation
Radar readiness restored, mission-critical deployments supported
