At the same time, it was decided to consider development of an indigenous WLR by India's primary defence contractor, DRDO.

[9] In September 1998, an RFP was issued for the urgent purchase of WLRs - AN/TPQ-36/37 from Hughes (USA), Thomson CSF (France) and ISKARA of (Ukraine).

However, the American and French radars were withheld when sanctions were imposed after India's Pokhran-II nuclear weapon tests, and negotiations with the Ukrainian manufacturers came to no conclusion.

These lacklustre efforts to obtain a WLR system were severely criticised by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence.

[9] Efforts to acquire such a system intensified after the Kargil War in 1999 where the Indian Army was severely disadvantaged by its lack of radar that could detect artillery fire.

[11] Almost 80% of Indian casualties during the war resulted from enemy artillery fire, making such a radar critical.

With the lifting of sanctions in late 2001, the US Government offered to sell the AN/TPQ-37 radar to India under their Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme for ₹.

The Army also used WLRs to further their "shoot-and-scoot" doctrine using self-propelled guns and artillery to loosen up defence before an offensive onslaught into hostile territory.

The radar can electronically scan a +/-45° range of azimuths for incoming rocket, artillery and mortar fire.

[1] Tracking of the target is done with monopulse signals with pulse compression, which improves the radar's range accuracy.

[1] The WLR is designed to detect and track incoming artillery rounds, mortar and rockets and locate their launchers.

Additionally, for 360° coverage from a given position, the whole array can be rotated by 135° on either side within 30 seconds to quickly change the scanning sector in response to threats.

[1] Upon detecting an incoming round, the automatically acquires and classifies the threat and initiates a track sequence, while continuing to search for new targets.

[1][24] The WLR also allows for remote operation, and data-linking for better situational awareness at higher echelons of the command hierarchy.

The Radar is designed to operate in harsh environments ranging from -20 to +55 °C, in hot and humid conditions, and can be safely stored from -40 to +70 °C.

[1][3] Shock and vibration performance and resistance to electromagnetic interference (EMI)/electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) are according to international military standards.

[8] The WLR is designed to operate in a high-density fire environment and has all weather capability, high mobility and quick reaction time.