India to buy more AWACS. Will Israel stay in the picture ?

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By ARIE EGOZI

The Indian air force wants to increase its fleet of airborne warning and control system (AWACS) aircraft and Israel wants to stay “in the picture”

The Indian MoD today cleared the purchase of two Airbus A330 aircraft for mounting an indigenously developed radar system.

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Costing US $840 million, the airborne warning and control system (AWACS) will add to India’s early warning assets which consist of two IL-76 aircraft mounted with an Israeli Phalcon radar.

The MoDs defence acquisition council (DAC) chaired by defence minister Manohar Parrikar accorded ‘acceptance of necessity’ for the AWACS project which is the first step in the procurement process. It is not known when the aircraft are slated for delivery.

The IAF currently operates Israeli Phalcon AWACS mounted on Russian IL-76 heavy-lift planes. The system has a range of 400km. It is also on course to induct Brazilian Embraer airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) system aircraft. The AEW&C systems developed by the DRDO are being installed on Embraer-145 jets imported from Brazil.

The AWACS will provide 360 degrees coverage over land and water.

Sources in the Israeli defense establishment told I-HLS that efforts are being made to convince the Indian government to purchase “full or partial” systems from Israel.

The Phalcon AWACS mounted on Russian IL-76 heavy-lift planes have been supplied by Israel aerospace industries (IAI).