Centre for Airborne Systems (CABS), is coordinating the Rs.1,800-crore effort to develop an indigenous airborne early warning and control system (AEW&CS) to augment the three Phalcon AWACs being procured by the IAF.November 09, 2008, (Sawf News) - Centre for Airborne Systems (CABS), is coordinating the Rs.1,800-crore effort to develop an indigenous airborne early warning and control system (AEW&CS) to augment the three Phalcon AWACs being procured by the IAF.
The AEW&CS will comprise of indigenously developed radar and control system mounted on a Brazilian Embraer EMB-145 regional jet. Under a $210 million deal signed with Brazilian aviation company Embraer in summer 2008, Embraer will supply India 3 EMB-145s with the system mounted on them.
The CABS is looking for a experienced partner who will be responsible for integrating the Active Array Antenna Unit (AAAU), other antennas, trans receiver modules and various sub systems being developed by Indian defense laboratories onto the three Brazil manufactured EMB-145
It has sent a request for proposal to six vendors - Israel's Elta, the European consortium EADS, France's Thales, Sweden's SAAB Erikson and the United State's Raytheon and Northrop Grumman.
The vendors have time till the third week of January 2009 to submit their proposals.
The first EMB-145 is scheduled to be delivered in 2011 and the complete system will be flight tested by the DRDO along with the Indian air force from 2012.
Centre for Airborne Systems (CABS), is coordinating the Rs.1,800-crore effort to develop an indigenous airborne early warning and control system (AEW&CS) to augment the three Phalcon AWACs being procured by the IAF.Sensors
The primary sensor will be active electronically scanned array radar with two planar arrays mounted on top of the fuselage in a dorsal unit, and capable of air and sea surveillance.
The secondary radar will have an identification friend or foe function, while communication and electronic support measures will also enable the aircraft to detect and identify hostile emitters.
A self-protection suite will consist of missile approach and radar warning receivers, plus countermeasures dispensers.
Interoperability
The AEW&C will feature voice and data communication over UHF voice and data channels.
The system is designed to complement three Ilyushin Il-76s equipped with Elta Systems Phalcon radars and Indian navy Kamov Ka-31 radar picket helicopters. However, it is not clear if there will feature data links with the other two systems.
The modified EMB-145 will have a service ceiling of 35,000ft (10,700m), a radar operational altitude of 25,000ft and extra internal fuel tanks to allow in-flight refueling.
The IAF is looking to acquire an additional 20 such systems.
News Copyright © Sawf News. May not be reproduced without explicit written permission