First airborne early warning system likely in December

Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhamre informed the Lok Sabha on Friday that the first Airborne Early Warning and Control System ( AEW&C) is likely to be inducted in December.

"There has been no delay in AWACS(I) Project as the current mandate of the project was to finalise on the contract of the aircraft through a global tendering process, which has been completed," the minister said in a written reply.

The indigenous Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) System is likely to be available from 2024, the minister added.

The response cited finalisation of operational requirements, delay in delivery of certified aircraft and incompletion of flight evaluation of the integrated systems due to reasons of modification on aircraft by original equipment manufacturer, as the reasons for delay in the AEW&C also known as mini AWACS.

AWE&C are airborne radar system to detect aerial threats and command the fighter air crafts for strikes. DRDO is developing an indigenous AWE&C system mounted on Embraer air crafts.

India operates AWACS system imported from Israel which is mounted on Russian IL -76 air crafts.

--IANS

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