According to India’s ANI News Network, in order to vigorously promote the localization of India’s defense industry and at the same time enhance the Indian Air Force’s monitoring capabilities on India’s borders with China and Pakistan, India plans to build six aircraft developed by the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) New early warning aircraft.
According to sources in the Indian government, according to the discussions on the BLOCK 2 phase of the airborne early warning and control project responsible for DRDO, 6 aircraft used to be converted into early warning aircraft will be purchased from Air India’s fleet.
After modification, these aircraft It will be able to carry radar to provide the Indian army with a 360-degree coverage of surveillance capabilities. The source said: “These six early warning aircraft will have stronger capabilities than the previous Netra early warning aircraft, and can provide 360-degree coverage of the depth of the enemy’s territory during missions.”
The source said that since the aircraft needed for the modification of the early warning aircraft will be obtained from the existing aircraft of Air India, it also means that India may not continue to promote the plan to purchase Airbus A330 aircraft from Europe.
Develop early warning aircraft for the aircraft platform.
The source also revealed that according to the plan, the six aircraft obtained from Air India will be sent to European manufacturers for modification to install radar.
In addition, six new early warning aircraft will be deployed in different areas after they are put into service to effectively monitor border areas.
Sources said that India’s plan aims to promote the development of Indian manufacturing in the field of defense and the ability of “self-sufficient India” (Aatmanirbhar Bharat).
The Indian Air Force currently has three “Faircon” early warning aircraft. The “Felcon” early warning radar system was purchased from Israel, and the carrier platform is the Il-76 transport aircraft purchased from Russia.
In addition, the Indian Air Force also has two early warning aircraft equipped with the “Netra” airborne early warning and control system developed by DRDO, and the platform is the Embraer ERJ 145 passenger aircraft. The Indian media said that this early warning aircraft performed well in the recent conflict. Frequent flying to monitor enemy dynamics.
It is reported that the former Indian Defense Minister Manohar Parikar stated as early as 2017 that India is preparing to develop a long-range airborne early warning and control system (AEW&C) in the next 6 years to make up for the shortcomings of aerial reconnaissance and early warning.
The latest long-range airborne early warning and control system will be similar to Israel’s “Felcon” early warning system, achieving full 360-degree coverage. The Indian side plans to complete the system development by 2023 and achieve the goal of “fully usable” the system.
