Next Generation Airborne Early Warning and Control Systems (Awacs India)
The Indian government has approved the production of the Awacs India, a project aimed at enhancing the capabilities of the Indian Air Force (IAF) with state-of-the-art airborne early warning systems.
Project Overview
- Cost: Approximately ₹20,000 crore.
- Objective: Equip the IAF with six advanced Awacs units capable of:
- Tracking enemy aircraft and ground sensors over long distances.
- Serving as a flying operations control center.
- Collaboration: DRDO will collaborate with Indian companies and Airbus to integrate systems on the A321 aircraft.
Technical Details
- Modifications: Structural changes to six A321 aircraft, previously acquired from Air India.
- Systems: Integration of a dorsal fin for 360-degree radar coverage, an indigenous mission control system, and AESA radars.
Current Capabilities and Challenges
- Existing Systems: The IAF currently operates smaller 'Netra' early warning aircraft and three IL76 ‘Phalcon’ systems, developed with Israel and Russia.
- Challenges: The 'Phalcon' fleet faces technical and availability issues.
Significance
This project will position India among a select group of nations with indigenous airborne early warning capabilities and marks the first use of an Airbus platform for such applications.
