India Okays Airbus 330 Based AWACS Project

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

Costing INR  5,100 crore  (US $ 840 million), the airborne warning and control system (AWACS) system will add to India’s early warning assets which consist of two IL-76 aircraft mounted with an Israeli Phacon radar.

The MoDs defence acquisition council (DAC) chaired by defence minster 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% coverage over land and water unlike the Phalcon which goes till 270%.