- Seeing Beyond the Surface : Brings L and P Bands SAR Intelligence to the Forefront
- Sisir Radar’s SAR Revolution : How Indian Start-ups Are Redefining Space-Based Surveillance
By Sangeeta Saxena
Dubai. 02 December 2025. At the Dubai Airshow 2025, the Inspiration Zone has emerged as a powerful showcase of India’s fast-maturing defence and space start-up ecosystem. Among the Indian innovators present is Sisir Radar Private Limited, an iDEX-winning company working at the cutting edge of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) technology. ADU spoke with Bishwajit Sardar, from the Founder’s Office at Sisir Radar, to understand how the company is redefining space-based intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance using advanced L, P and X-band SAR constellations—with direct relevance to India’s national security needs.
ADU. We are here at the Dubai Airshow in the Inspiration Zone, which is dedicated to Indian start-ups. Sisir Radar is an iDEX winner. What brings you here and what are you showcasing?
Bishwajit Sardar. Sisir Radar started its journey in 2022 and today we are showcasing our vision of launching a private SAR satellite constellation. Our focus is on L-band and P-band SAR, which are extremely critical for defence and security applications. Through L-band, we can see through foliage and canopy, enabling tracking of movement, enemy activities, border monitoring, and road network mapping.
ADU. Battlefield dominance today begins with superior awareness. What sets Sisir Radar apart from conventional surveillance systems?
Bishwajit Sardar. Sisir Radar delivers what conventional systems simply cannot—24/7, all-weather intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance. Our SAR-based systems operate irrespective of daylight, weather, or terrain, providing real-time situational awareness with sub-metric precision. Whether it is detecting enemy movement, camouflaged assets, tunnels, or landmines, our solutions are designed to give commanders decisive battlefield advantage.
ADU. How critical is reliability and security when these systems are deployed in combat environments?
Bishwajit Sardar. Extremely critical. Every Sisir Radar system is developed under stringent security protocols. They are battlefield-ready, privacy-assured, and mission-secure, ensuring that sensitive data remains protected while delivering uninterrupted intelligence. Strategic superiority depends not just on capability, but on trust—and our systems are built with that responsibility in mind.
ADU. Can you walk us through the different radar bands Sisir Radar works on and their operational relevance?.
Bishwajit Sardar. We operate across X, L, and P bands, each serving a distinct and crucial role in ISR operations.
ADU. Let’s start with X-band. What does it offer?
Bishwajit Sardar. X-band SAR provides high-precision mapping and high-quality surveillance. It is ideal for detailed surface imaging, target identification, and tactical monitoring where fine resolution and accuracy are essential.
ADU. L-band seems to be one of your key strengths. What makes it unique?
Bishwajit Sardar. Absolutely. Sisir Radar has developed the world’s highest-resolution L-band SAR, and notably, the first sub-metric resolution L-band system globally. It delivers 10 times better resolution than existing standards and offers superior foliage penetration. This allows us to detect structures, vehicles, convoys, and weapon systems—including artillery—hidden beneath dense vegetation, which is a major limitation for optical and conventional radar systems.
ADU. And what about P-band, which is especially relevant for border security?
Bishwajit Sardar. P-band is a game-changer. Sisir Radar is developing the world’s first high-resolution P-band SAR, again offering 10 times better resolution. Its key advantage is deep ground penetration, enabling detection of tunnels, bunkers, landmines, and underground structures—capabilities that are critical for border surveillance and counter-infiltration operations.
ADU. So, in essence, Sisir Radar is addressing gaps that traditional ISR systems cannot?
Bishwajit Sardar. Exactly. Optical systems are limited by weather, daylight, and terrain. Our SAR solutions provide persistent, reliable, and actionable intelligence, ensuring forces never operate blind—no matter the conditions.
ADU. And how does P-band add to this capability?
Bishwajit Sardar. P-band takes it a step further. It allows penetration below the ground, which is especially useful for detecting tunnels along borders. This is a key capability we are currently developing for the Indian Air Force, alongside our L-band systems. Together, these bands provide a powerful intelligence advantage that optical satellites simply cannot offer.
ADU. That means these systems can operate round the clock?
Bishwajit Sardar. Absolutely. That is one of the biggest strengths of SAR. Our systems can operate 24 hours a day, in all weather conditions, day or night. Optical satellites are limited—you cannot see at night, under foliage, or beneath the ground. SAR imagery, on the other hand, is far superior for analytical and geospatial intelligence purposes.
ADU. Are you also working on data analysis and AI-driven insights?
Bishwajit Sardar. Yes, we have developed our own AI-enabled analytics platform. This allows for change detection, land-use analysis, terrain and site prediction, and intelligent assessment of border infrastructure and road networks. The idea is not just to capture imagery, but to convert it into actionable intelligence.
ADU. How has the response been here at Dubai Airshow?
Bishwajit Sardar. The response has been very encouraging. Visitors and experts have appreciated our work, especially because we offer the highest resolution SAR imagery globally. We provide up to 10 times better resolution than existing government standards, across L, P, and X bands. That has generated strong interest.
ADU. Tell us a little about the leadership behind Sisir Radar.
Bishwajit Sardar. Our founder, Dr. Tapan Mishra, brings over 40 years of experience in space and radar systems. He provides the legacy, vision, and technical depth that guide our work. Sisir Radar has been contributing to India’s space ecosystem for a long time, and this start-up phase builds on that strong foundation.
ADU. It is impressive to see such deep capability coming from Indian start-ups.
Bishwajit Sardar. Thank you. It is encouraging to see platforms like the Dubai Airshow recognising Indian innovation. We are proud to be part of this journey.
Sisir Radar’s presence at the Dubai Airshow highlights a crucial shift in India’s defence and space capabilities—from dependence on traditional optical systems to advanced, indigenous SAR-based intelligence solutions. With L- and P-band radar enabling foliage and ground penetration, AI-driven analytics, and world-leading resolution standards, the company is positioning itself as a key player in border security, surveillance, and strategic intelligence. Backed by seasoned leadership and iDEX support, Sisir Radar exemplifies how Indian start-ups are now shaping the future of space-based defence technologies.
As told to Sangeeta Saxena / Interview was taken at Dubai Airshow 2025
