In a big push for the local defense industry, India is to manufacture six new Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft that will be developed by Air India’s Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) in aircraft to further enhance capabilities. surveillance of the Air Force along the borders with China and Pakistan.
Government sources said that based on discussions about the AEW & C Block 2 aircraft to be developed by the DRDO under a project of Rs 10,500 crore, the six aircraft would be purchased from Air India’s fleet and modified to fly with a radar that will give 360-degree of surveillance capacity to the defense forces.
“The six blocks of two AEW & C aircraft would be highly capable than its predecessor NETRA aircraft and would provide 360-degree coverage deep within enemy territory during missions. The government is expected to clear the project soon, ”government sources told ANI.
The project to build the AEW & C system on existing aircraft in Air India’s fleet may also mean that India cannot buy the six Airbus 330 transport jets it is planning to buy before the European firm, the sources said.
The Defense Research and Development Organization had previously planned to build six Airborne Warning and Control Systems (AWACS) on the Airbus 330 aircraft for which it was planned to create some facilities in Bangalore.
According to plans, the six new planes would be shipped to a European destination to the original equipment manufacturer for modification of the planes to install the radar, the sources said.
The sources said that the project has been planned in a way to promote Make in India in defense and Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
Block I of the project was delayed beyond the scheduled deadlines, but with prior experience under its belt, the DRDO Center for Airborne Studies laboratory plans to complete it in a shorter time frame.
The IAF has three PHALCON AWACS systems purchased from Israel and Russia under which the Israelis provide the radar, while the platform used is the Russian Ilyushin-76 transport aircraft.
The two NETRA aircraft provided by the DRDO have also performed very well in recent conflicts where they have flown extensively to monitor enemy activity.
The six new ‘eyes in the sky’ would be stationed at different locations in the countries for effective surveillance along both borders, the sources said.
.
