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| IAFs new EMB-145 AEW&C Aircraft (File Photo) |
By Gulshan Luthra
Bangalore. The Indian Air Force (IAF) is looking at 10 AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control Systems Aircraft) on western platforms.
Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal NAK Browne told India Strategic that right now, IAF is negotiating for two IL 76-based AWACS with Israel, in addition to the three already acquired. But the future platforms would be western, either the Boeing 767 or Airbus A330. The Air Chief also released the Aero India editions of India Strategic and the Show Daily.
Significantly, he said, the radar systems would be provided by DRDO, either indigenously or through collaboration. The idea is to develop indigenous capability, something the IAF and the other Services, Army and Navy also support.
DRDO is already working on smaller airborne intelligence systems on Brazilian Embraer 145 aircraft. But to fix a radome on a big aircraft would pose two challenges: One, the development of the system and two, its integration on big aircraft like the Boeing 767 or Airbus A 330.
In fact, aircraft technologies are easier to manage than the AWACS systems, which demand futuristic sophistication.
Read the full story at India Strategic