New Delhi: The Ministry of Defense on Thursday approved the purchase of six additional airborn early warning and control (AEW & C), which will be an advanced version of the current two-service India-developed systems called Netra.
The new system is likely to ride on six embrace aircraft like existing two. India operates three AEW & C, one of which is operated by the Center for Air Born System (CABS), which falls under the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO).
Known as ‘Eye in the Sky’, AEW and C can detect and track all flying objects, including incoming fighters, cruise missiles and drones, which are faster than the ground-based radar. They can also serve as an aerial control room for missions, while also keep a track of vessels in the sea.
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The Defense Acquisition Council (DAC) withdrawal is important for AEW and C as the Indian Air Force (IAF) needs to include more systems as soon as possible.
The Air Force has planned to include six more Netra systems including Netra MK1A, in addition to the currently two -operative replacement for two. In addition, there are plans to include another six AEW and C system being developed by DRDO and climb the Airbus A321 aircraft, known as Netra MK2.
Six of these aircraft for MK2 have been purchased from Air India and currently with IAF communication squadron. These aircraft will be fitted with India with indigenously active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar.
India also operates three air bourne warnings and control systems (AWACS), which are integrated with Russian IL-76 aircraft.
On the other hand, Pakistan, four Chinese ZDK03 Karakoram Eagle AWACS, conducts nine state -of -the -art SAAB 2000 Erieye Aew & CS. Given its size, Pakistan has the ability to monitor round-the-clock, which is currently not present with India.
On 27 February 2019, criticism of AEW & C was felt during the air duality between India and Pakistan. Pakistan, which was then six Saab 2000, took advantage of the change of IAF’s ‘I in the Sky’, when the attack started.
While Netra in India currently has a range of about 200 km, the IL76-based system has a range of 400 km and is 360 degrees coverage to reduce slightly for the east. It is understood that Netra MK 1A and MK2 will have too much range and capabilities.
This is an updated version of the report. Raw has been replaced with the Center for Air Born System (CABS) at the second para.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
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