India’s first indigenously developed airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) system is ready to be integrated with an Embraer 145 jet and could be fully operational by late 2011.
The airborne warning and control system (AWACS) and AEW&C systems are advanced radars crucial for long-range and precision engagement to neutralise hostile targets.
The system is to be equipped with identification friend and foe (IFF), missile attack warning, electronic support measures (ESM), communication support measures (CSM), secure satellite and wireless datalinks, as well as the AWACS platforms.
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) chief controller (SI) Prahlada said the Indian AEW&C was an active phased array radar, designed with panaromic view capable of rapidly scanning the area around it for airborne and ground threats.
The Indian Navy requires varying levels of radar capabilities, from short to long-range and wide-area coverage and could acquire a number of the systems in the near future, according to the Economic Times.
India has 12 Boeing P8-I multimission maritime aircraft (MMAs) on order and is also considering the Northrop carrier-borne Hawkeye 2D, although the system requires a more indigenous capability.
The navy and the air force could require at least 20 each on different platforms and different capabilities.
