DRDO takes delivery of aircraft designed for AEW&C

"In a landmark event the EMB-145I aircraft designed and developed for AEW&C role has been delivered to Centre for Airborne Systems of DRDO by Embraer for ferry to India. With ownership of the aircraft transferred to DRDO, the aircraft has been flagged off by the Indian Delegation there," a DRDO release said here.

The delegation comprises S Christopher, Programme Director (AEW&C) and Director, CABS, M S Easwaran, Associate Programme Director (AEW&C), Air Cmde B Banerjee and Air Cmde Rippon Gupta.

The aircraft was handed over to the DRDO authorities after the Factory Acceptance Test including Ground and Flight tests were conducted successfully and met operational targets set by CABS and Embraer.

For the programme, CABS claims to have developed the Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar weighing 1600 kg.

"The structural AESA with dummy electronics is certified for airworthiness by the Brazilian certification agency, ANAC. The aircraft is fitted with AESA and the airworthy units from other workcenters of DRDO have been flight tested prior to ferry to India," DRDO said.

After its arrival in the country, the aircraft would be fitted with Mission Systems Avionics and will commence the developmental trials of AEW&C, after successful ground evaluation clearances.