DRDO Phalcon style AWACS

[Prashant12]

Air Force set to get two more warning systems

The proposal is now before the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) and the entire project is estimated to take three years after the apex committee’s clearance.

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) last month cleared a ₹9,000 crore joint proposal of the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) and the Indian Air Force to purchase two Airbus 330s and convert them into 360-degree long-range capability Airborne Warning and Control Systems (AWACS), senior officials familiar with the development said on Saturday.

The proposal is now before the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) and the entire project is estimated to take three years after the apex committee’s clearance.

“The need for more AWACS was acutely felt post the Balakot air strike, with Pakistan being able to deploy its SAAB AWACS 24x7 in the north and south sectors and India being able to cover the two theatres only for 12 hours each day,” one of the officials cited above said.

The DRDO has also decided to hand over a third Embraer-mounted Airborne Early Warning system to the IAF (Indian Air Force) to further enhance Indian capability in battlefield theatre. The IAF already has two Israeli PHALCON radars mounted on a Russian A-50 platform and two DRDO-developed radars mounted on Embraer platforms.

According to the proposal cleared by the DAC, the Airbus AWACS will be a 50:50 joint venture between the DRDO and the IAF. Once the aircraft are purchased, the DRDO will mount a 360-degree rotor dome radar along with state of the art communication capability to guide the IAF fighters and attack helicopters in future war theatres, one of the officials cited above said.

The AWACS not only tracks the aerial threat, be it a fighter or a missile, but also guides the counter-response. Had it not been for PHALCON AWACS, the Indian response to the February 27 Pakistani counter-strike would have been weak and the IAF would never have known that Wing Commander Abhinandan had downed a Pakistan Air Force fighter code-named Red Mike on the radar. Whether Red Mike was an American F-16 sold by Jordan to Pakistan or any other fighter is still not confirmed.

https://www.hindustantimes.com/indi...ing-systems/story-KC4gyG7wnY3gfXnl26cqUO.html

 

[Aniruddha Mulay]

Air Force set to get two more warning systems

The proposal is now before the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) and the entire project is estimated to take three years after the apex committee’s clearance.

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) last month cleared a ₹9,000 crore joint proposal of the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) and the Indian Air Force to purchase two Airbus 330s and convert them into 360-degree long-range capability Airborne Warning and Control Systems (AWACS), senior officials familiar with the development said on Saturday.

The proposal is now before the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) and the entire project is estimated to take three years after the apex committee’s clearance.

“The need for more AWACS was acutely felt post the Balakot air strike, with Pakistan being able to deploy its SAAB AWACS 24x7 in the north and south sectors and India being able to cover the two theatres only for 12 hours each day,” one of the officials cited above said.

The DRDO has also decided to hand over a third Embraer-mounted Airborne Early Warning system to the IAF (Indian Air Force) to further enhance Indian capability in battlefield theatre. The IAF already has two Israeli PHALCON radars mounted on a Russian A-50 platform and two DRDO-developed radars mounted on Embraer platforms.

According to the proposal cleared by the DAC, the Airbus AWACS will be a 50:50 joint venture between the DRDO and the IAF. Once the aircraft are purchased, the DRDO will mount a 360-degree rotor dome radar along with state of the art communication capability to guide the IAF fighters and attack helicopters in future war theatres, one of the officials cited above said.

The AWACS not only tracks the aerial threat, be it a fighter or a missile, but also guides the counter-response. Had it not been for PHALCON AWACS, the Indian response to the February 27 Pakistani counter-strike would have been weak and the IAF would never have known that Wing Commander Abhinandan had downed a Pakistan Air Force fighter code-named Red Mike on the radar. Whether Red Mike was an American F-16 sold by Jordan to Pakistan or any other fighter is still not confirmed.

https://www.hindustantimes.com/indi...ing-systems/story-KC4gyG7wnY3gfXnl26cqUO.html

What happened to the Phalcon AWACS deal for 2 more Phalcon AWACS between Israel and India?

 

[Raj Malhotra]

This indigenous AWACS was proposed first in 2008 & cleared by Jaitely when he was DM in 2013. Its blocked due to Phalcon Lobby for last 11 years. By this time we could be having 6 indigenous most advanced A330 mounted AWACS which could stay in Air 12-18 hours at a stretch.

 

[IndiaRising]

This indigenous AWACS was proposed first in 2008 & cleared by Jaitely when he was DM in 2013. Its blocked due to Phalcon Lobby for last 11 years. By this time we could be having 6 indigenous most advanced A330 mounted AWACS which could stay in Air 12-18 hours at a stretch.

Jaitley was not DM in 2013. ....................

 

[Wisemarko]

Why not buy 2 of each- Erieye, Wedgetail, G-550, K-50? (Sarcasm)

Looks like India is on the way to make a mess of AWACS fleet with logistical and support nightmare.

Also, all this will not do well unless Link-16 or other such datalink is installed on both AWACS and fighters- currently not present with IAF. That itself is a sheer waste of AWACS capability

 

[Knowitall]

Why not buy 2 of each- Erieye, Wedgetail, G-550, K-50? (Sarcasm)

Looks like India is on the way to make a mess of AWACS fleet with logistical and support nightmare.

Also, all this will not do well unless Link-16 or other such datalink is installed on both AWACS and fighters- currently not present with IAF. That itself is a sheer waste of AWACS capability

We are getting 2 now and as time progresses we will get more as the gap is big and we order more it will systematically replace phalcon and Netra so don't worry about that.

 

[Wisemarko]

We are getting 2 now and as time progresses we will get more as the gap is big and we order more it will systematically replace phalcon and Netra so don't worry about that.

I am not the one who should be worried.
Yes and by 2050 the fleet should be ready. Noting Indian defense planners for last 3 decades, nothing gets done on time or with pragmatism. No wonder the entire air-force is made with small batches of harried purchases. After first 2-3 A330 they will find another fish to fry and will find some excuse to move on to another airframe.

FYI: you are not getting anything now. A330 if sanctioned today will arrive in 2023-2024. Then efficient DRDO will install radar and electronics. Then comes testing, IOC, FOC etc. We are looking at 2026-2028 timeline to have 2 operating A330 IF contract is signed this year. More likely 2030 knowing all the players and factors. By that time, the first Phalcon would be 20 years old and its airframe 27 years old. We call this a sh*tshow. Is that the best India can do?

 

[janme]

I am not the one who should be worried.
Yes and by 2050 the fleet should be ready. Noting Indian defense planners for last 3 decades, nothing gets done on time or with pragmatism. No wonder the entire air-force is made with small batches of harried purchases. After first 2-3 A330 they will find another fish to fry and will find some excuse to move on to another airframe.

FYI: you are not getting anything now. A330 if sanctioned today will arrive in 2023-2024. Then efficient DRDO will install radar and electronics. Then comes testing, IOC, FOC etc. We are looking at 2026-2028 timeline to have 2 operating A330 IF contract is signed this year. More likely 2030 knowing all the players and factors. By that time, the first Phalcon would be 20 years old and its airframe 27 years old. We call this a sh*tshow. Is that the best India can do?

Sad state of affairs indeed, and this is not the only procurement where there is mismanagement, lack of foresight, apathy.

 

[Wisemarko]

Sad state of affairs indeed, and this is not the only procurement where there is mismanagement, lack of foresight, apathy.

There are brilliant Indians who manage world class companies and there’s DRDO and HAL. Mind boggling to any outsider.

 

[abhay rajput]

There are brilliant Indians who manage world class companies and there’s DRDO and HAL. Mind boggling to any outsider.

It's the fear of not losing job even if you don't do anything. IAF likes Netra which happens very rarely for any homegrown products. Aesa radars can be made in 4 years but problem is procurement of platform. For the last 2 times the tender doesn't move forward because of the price and cost.. it's the procurement process which is shit.. just look at 126 mrca tender which was issued way back in 2001 and even after 20 years , the contract is only Signed for 36 aircraft... You can see where the problem lies... anyways the timeline for this aircrafts is already 2025 from DRDO.

 

[south block]

There are brilliant Indians who manage world class companies and there’s DRDO and HAL. Mind boggling to any outsider.

There are brilliant Indians who work for India & stay in India --- innovate here --- contribute here, don't pass off foreign assembled screw drive maal as their own & than their are foreign wannabe White's slaves who like to clean their white boss a** cause they are nothing but big loosers themselves who survive on work of their underpaid workers.

 

[ezsasa]

There are brilliant Indians who manage world class companies and there’s DRDO and HAL. Mind boggling to any outsider.

Mind boggling because their media doesn’t tell them that India is socialist country as per constitution.

When primary priority is social welfare, effects will be felt across the spectrum.

Zimble...

 

[Wisemarko]

There are brilliant Indians who work for India & stay in India --- innovate here --- contribute here, don't pass off foreign assembled screw drive maal as their own & than their are foreign wannabe White's slaves who like to clean their white boss a** cause they are nothing but big loosers themselves who survive on work of their underpaid workers.

Yes, please take them all back. More jobs for Americans. Your narrative fits perfectly with Alt Right.

 

[Rassil Krishnan]

Yes, please take them all back. More jobs for Americans. Your narrative fits perfectly with Alt Right.

Wisemarko the alt right are right in the case of nationalism.If what is promoted here is promoted by white people everyone will call it bad or evil.

It is better not to be hypocritical and let everyone have their own nationalism.

 

[Longewala]

"Airbus AWACS will be a 50:50 joint venture between the DRDOand the IAF."
Which is a great step in the right direction.

 

[AmoghaVarsha]

So we have 6 AWACS. 3 phalcon 3 Netra. Why was the 2 additional phalcon not bought, gods dont know either.

Pakistan has 10. They have been better in planning this. They ordered the SAAB erieye on a SAAB 2000 platform. Basically all SAAB.So less issues.



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[Suryavanshi]

So we have 6 AWACS. 3 phalcon 3 Netra. Why was the 2 additional phalcon not bought, gods dont know either.

Pakistan has 10. They have been better in planning this. They ordered the SAAB erieye on a SAAB 2000 platform. Basically all SAAB.So less issues.



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Pakistan has better wepaon standardisation than us. They stick to one platform and put it to maximum efficiency in the military machine.
While we are Jack of all trade master of none.
Diversity is good but at this point we should consider a bit about standardization.

 

[Aniruddha Mulay]

Pakistan has better wepaon standardisation than us. They stick to one platform and put it to maximum efficiency in the military machine.
While we are Jack of all trade master of none.
Diversity is good but at this point we should consider a bit about standardization.

Now with the Inclusion of A-330 AWACS and possibly C-295 AWACS, it is going to be a maintenance and logistical nightmare.

 

[Deathstar]

So we have 6 AWACS. 3 phalcon 3 Netra. Why was the 2 additional phalcon not bought, gods dont know either.

Pakistan has 10. They have been better in planning this. They ordered the SAAB erieye on a SAAB 2000 platform. Basically all SAAB.So less issues.



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Cz they understand their resource constraints and limitations. Unlike us , we boast more deliver less

 

[Defcon 1]

Pakistan has better wepaon standardisation than us. They stick to one platform and put it to maximum efficiency in the military machine.
While we are Jack of all trade master of none.
Diversity is good but at this point we should consider a bit about standardization.

The major reason for this is the way procurements are done today, which force open tenders for every weapon purchase. Therefore, today it is possible that we may go for a new tank in FRCV despite having a fleet of Arjun and T90 already, a new fighter in MMRCA 2 despite having ordered Rafales already, and a new submarine in P75I despite having ordered Scorpenes already. G2G deals without doing an open tender would reduce the procurement time and lead to more standardization, though it will potentially increase corruption. Its a tradeoff. Pakistan has gone for the former way, we have gone for the latter.