Airborne Early Warning & Control: News & Discussion

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Karthik S
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Re: AEW&C News & Discussion

Post by Karthik S »

SBajwa wrote:http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation ... 02072.html

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is setting up a base for operating airborne early warning and control aircraft at the Bhisiana Air Force Station near Bathinda.

The base will house indigenous Airborne Early Warning and Control Systems (AEW&CS) developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

The DRDO’s Bengaluru-based Centre for Airborne Systems (CABS) has developed three such systems that are mounted on the Brazilian Embraer ERJ 145 aircraft. Two of the aircraft would be based at Bhisiana while the third will remain positioned at the CABS for research and development, sources said.

Bhiasana will become the second IAF base to operate early warning aircraft after Agra, which is a home to the A-50 AWACS, which are Israeli Phalcon systems integrated with a modified Russian IL-76 heavy-lift aircraft. The IAF operates three A-50s and another two are expected next year.

Technical support and maintenance facilities are being set up at Bhisiana to cater to AEW&CS operations, for which appropriate sites are being identified. The CABS was headed by the recently appointed Director General, DRDO, Dr S Christopher. Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha had commanded the Bhisiana airbase as a Group Captain in the early 2000s.

AWACS are force multipliers and can cover a huge swath of airspace, look deep into the enemy territory, detect enemy aircraft and missiles right from the launch phase and intercept communications. Their flying altitude gives them an advantage over ground-based radar and they can provide a real time battlefield picture to commanders for decision making and counter air operations.

DRDO’s Embraer-mounted systems have limited range and capability vis-à-vis the A-50 or similar systems elsewhere. Earlier this year, the Defence Acquisition Council cleared a proposal for the purchase of two French Airbus A-330 aircraft that will be integrated with an advanced early warning and control system to be developed by the DRDO.

Pakistan has four Swedish Saab 2000 Erieye aircraft for early warning, which are similar to DRDO’s systems while China is reported to have at least 12 AWACS based upon the IL-76 and indigenous tactical aircraft, with more on order.
Wasn't the deal for two more signed sometime in 2011? 5 years to get a follow-on order of 2 more?
K_Rohit
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Re: AEW&C News & Discussion

Post by K_Rohit »

SBajwa wrote:http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation ... 02072.html

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is setting up a base for operating airborne early warning and control aircraft at the Bhisiana Air Force Station near Bathinda.

The base will house indigenous Airborne Early Warning and Control Systems (AEW&CS) developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

The DRDO’s Bengaluru-based Centre for Airborne Systems (CABS) has developed three such systems that are mounted on the Brazilian Embraer ERJ 145 aircraft. Two of the aircraft would be based at Bhisiana while the third will remain positioned at the CABS for research and development, sources said.

Bhiasana will become the second IAF base to operate early warning aircraft after Agra, which is a home to the A-50 AWACS, which are Israeli Phalcon systems integrated with a modified Russian IL-76 heavy-lift aircraft. The IAF operates three A-50s and another two are expected next year.

Technical support and maintenance facilities are being set up at Bhisiana to cater to AEW&CS operations, for which appropriate sites are being identified. The CABS was headed by the recently appointed Director General, DRDO, Dr S Christopher. Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha had commanded the Bhisiana airbase as a Group Captain in the early 2000s.

AWACS are force multipliers and can cover a huge swath of airspace, look deep into the enemy territory, detect enemy aircraft and missiles right from the launch phase and intercept communications. Their flying altitude gives them an advantage over ground-based radar and they can provide a real time battlefield picture to commanders for decision making and counter air operations.

DRDO’s Embraer-mounted systems have limited range and capability vis-à-vis the A-50 or similar systems elsewhere. Earlier this year, the Defence Acquisition Council cleared a proposal for the purchase of two French Airbus A-330 aircraft that will be integrated with an advanced early warning and control system to be developed by the DRDO.

Pakistan has four Swedish Saab 2000 Erieye aircraft for early warning, which are similar to DRDO’s systems while China is reported to have at least 12 AWACS based upon the IL-76 and indigenous tactical aircraft, with more on order.
Why would a high value asset be based 50 km from the border in range of even artillery?
SBajwa
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Re: AEW&C News & Discussion

Post by SBajwa »

by K_Rohit
Why would a high value asset be based 50 km from the border in range of even artillery?
Bhatinda is about 100 KM away from the Pakistani border., this is where the DRDO version of the embraer A&EW will be placed (probably one or two aircraft) It is a forward air force base good to check the Kasur to Bahawalpur area.
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Re: AEW&C News & Discussion

Post by K Mehta »

K_Rohit
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Re: AEW&C News & Discussion

Post by K_Rohit »

SBajwa wrote:
by K_Rohit
Why would a high value asset be based 50 km from the border in range of even artillery?
Bhatinda is about 100 KM away from the Pakistani border., this is where the DRDO version of the embraer A&EW will be placed (probably one or two aircraft) It is a forward air force base good to check the Kasur to Bahawalpur area.
Google maps shows the runway 50-55 km from the border.
rohitvats
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Re: AEW&C News & Discussion

Post by rohitvats »

^^^Minimum distance that I'm getting is 68 km...how are you getting 55km?
Khalsa
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Re: AEW&C News & Discussion

Post by Khalsa »

Regardless of whether its 55 or 65 or 100

Bathinda is usually a place for holding corps and is thus quite mapped out by the Pakis, especially since the advent of Google Maps and Sat Photography.


I agree with the concerns of placing strategic assets so close. Gone are the days when horse race track patterns were thrown over Adampur, Halwara etc to trap and discourage incoming attacks by basing fighters so close to the front line. I certainly would have expected them to be a bit further back.

However Could this a peace time posting and as the war clouds gather , they will be pulled back.
K_Rohit
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Re: AEW&C News & Discussion

Post by K_Rohit »

Khalsa wrote:Regardless of whether its 55 or 65 or 100

Bathinda is usually a place for holding corps and is thus quite mapped out by the Pakis, especially since the advent of Google Maps and Sat Photography.


I agree with the concerns of placing strategic assets so close. Gone are the days when horse race track patterns were thrown over Adampur, Halwara etc to trap and discourage incoming attacks by basing fighters so close to the front line. I certainly would have expected them to be a bit further back.

However Could this a peace time posting and as the war clouds gather , they will be pulled back.
Agree with your thoughts. However, isn't that the opposite of what happens in wartime? HVAs from rear located airbases such as Pune, Gwalior, etc are sent to FOBs? Here we do the opposite?
srai
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Re: AEW&C News & Discussion

Post by srai »

That area would be heavily contested both on the ground and in the air. Seems bit too close for comfort to house AEW assets. One would have thought there would have been another AEW base setup in the East.
Karan M
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Re: AEW&C News & Discussion

Post by Karan M »

Could be peace time posting. With AEW&C and Divya Drishti, IAF can constantly monitor deep into TSP and their basing strategies, flight training etc.
Divya Drishti is already deployed.
http://www.drdo.gov.in/drdo/labs/DLRL/E ... asWork.jsp

DIVYA DRISHTI

Divya Drishti is a joint SI Dte – DRDO programme, with the aim of interception, monitoring, direction finding and analysis (IMDFAS) of communication signals. The system will be installed at various locations on static and mobile stations. All stations will be connected through a satellite communication network. The system caters to the mission of building aircraft flight profile (Mission Analysis).
Gyan
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Re: AEW&C News & Discussion

Post by Gyan »

Jaipur, Agra, Delhi etc make more sense for AEW, AWACS assets.
Indranil
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Re: AEW&C News & Discussion

Post by Indranil »

Wind tunnel testing of AWAC-I chapati to start soon.

The chapati will be 10.2 mtrs in diameter and 2.1 mtrs high.
Karan M
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Re: AEW&C News & Discussion

Post by Karan M »

Indranil, any luck in finding out which band it will work in?
I had posted a tender for DRDO looking for GaN TRMs across L,X,S Bands IIRC - those might have been either for this program or the ABM one..
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Re: AEW&C News & Discussion

Post by Indranil »

Not yet. We have to keep an eye out. Generally, we can tie these things together.
Gagan
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Re: AEW&C News & Discussion

Post by Gagan »

Wow, Bhatinda is the largest Cantt in Asia.
But the advantage is that once, the embraer is in the air, it will provide a pretty wide and good view of all of Pakjab - that is where the cream of their airforce is. I think about 60% of their airforce's assets are located here.
Mainly the bases at Rafiqui, Risalwala, Sargodha, Chander, Velhari and Multan will be all in view.

The IAF could have based it around Suratgarh, Bikaner, Jaiselmer, but there is not much PAF assets there.

From Bathinda and using the IAFs other radar sites up north, India can easily see every missile launch weather ballistic or cruise - the terrain is relatively flat.
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Re: AEW&C News & Discussion

Post by sarang »

The placement of such assets shows IAFs confidence.
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Re: AEW&C News & Discussion

Post by Cybaru »

Peacetime base will probably be different than war time. Hope they build capabilities in multiple places.
SBajwa
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Re: AEW&C News & Discussion

Post by SBajwa »

old news but worthy

http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/more-eye ... aft-750422

New Delhi: With the aim of having more ears and eyes in the sky to detect incoming missiles and aircraft the Ministry of the Defence today cleared the acquisition of the aircraft mounted radars - Airborne Warning and Control Systems (AWACS).

Source told NDTV the Defence Acquisition Council - the highest decision making body of the ministry on acquisitions which is headed by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar - has cleared the purchase of two French made Airbus A-330 aircraft at a total cost of Rs. 5100 crore. The radars to be mounted on these aircrafts will be developed by India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). India wants to have to six such AWACS.

AWACS can monitor huge swathes of airspace, look deep into enemy territory, intercept communications and detect incoming threats, whether missiles or aircrafts. An AWACS can detect a missile the moment it is fired from enemy territory or pick up enemy fighter jets even as they get airborne. By beaming down real time pictures to the ground they allow more time and an appropriate response.

India has three operational AWACS. These are Israeli made radars mounted on IL-76 - Russian-made heavy transport jets. Two more AWACS of the same variety - the acquisition of which was cleared in 2014 - are expected to join the IAF in 2016.

Besides, another three mounted Brazilian Embraer Jets are expected to join the Indian Air Force or IAF next year. But the range and capability of the Embraer mounted AWACS are limited.

India has been trying to acquire AWACS capability since the 1980s. Its efforts suffered a major blow when an indigenously made radar mounted on an Avro - a light transport aircraft - crashed in January 1999 in Tamil Nadu killing all eight people, including four scientists on board.

Also, the Defence Acquisition Council cleared the purchase of 30 Weapon Locating Radars (WLR) made by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) - Defence Public Sector Unit - at a total cost Rs. 1605 crore. The WLRs are typically used by the artillery to locate gun position enemy territory. Once the enemy weapon positions are known, missiles, artillery fire or even fighters can be directed towards them to destroy them.
Mihir
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Re: AEW&C News & Discussion

Post by Mihir »

Indian Army went without parachutes for over a decade: CAG
The country’s top auditor, separately, also slammed the Indian Air Force for sub-optimal utilisation of operational capabilities of AWACS (air borne warning and control system) aircraft purchased in 2004 for Rs 5,042 crore and has said shortage of aircrew may impact the operations of the planes during hostilities.
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Re: AEW&C News & Discussion

Post by Mort Walker »

^^^It takes years to get operational experience on an AWACS.
Mihir
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Re: AEW&C News & Discussion

Post by Mihir »

True, but the last of the three A-50s were delivered more than five years ago. And if the IAF lacks operational experience, those birds should be flying harder than ever on training missions and exercises.

When was the last time we saw photos or news snippets of the planes, I wonder?
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Re: AEW&C News & Discussion

Post by srai »

^^^

X-posting
srai wrote:Lessons not learned ...

CAG slams Indian Air Force for sub-optimal utilisation of AWACS
NEW DELHI: The country's top auditor has slammed the Indian Air Force for sub-optimal utilisation of operational capabilities of AWACS (air borne warning and control system) aircraft purchased in 2004 for Rs 5,042 crore and has said shortage of aircrew may impact the operations of the planes during hostilities.

The Comptroller and Auditor General of India also slammed the low serviceability of the Sukhois, country's front-line combat aircraft.

Without identifying the AWACS aircraft acquired from Russia, the audit body said Defence Ministry concluded a contract (March 2004) for procurement of three 'AA' and its sub-systems at a cost of Rs 5,042 crore.

AWACS is capable of operating as an Airborne Command & Control Centre for conducting offensive and defensive air operations.

"There was sub-optimal utilisation of operational capabilities of 'AA' in terms of flying task achieved mainly due to un-serviceability of 'AA'. Besides, scope for increasing operational efficiency of 'AA' aircraft was restricted due to absence of training to aircrew on air to air refuelling (AAR) and non-acquisition of additional land for extension of runway length at AF Station 'S-3'," the CAG said in its report submitted to the Parliament.

It said there was delay in installation of Ground Exploitation Station (GES) at intended location ('S-1') due to lack of due diligence in planning of work services.

"There was shortage of aircrew which may impact the operations of the 'AA' aircraft during hostilities. No long-term arrangement existed for repair and maintenance of 'AA' which was being managed with interim maintenance services contract," it said.

The audit body said supply of defective Automatic Test Equipment for Communication System, the non-supply of 'I' level facility for Identification of Friend or Foe (IFF) system and short provisioning of stores/rotables had adversely affected the serviceability of 'AA'.

"Certain infrastructure facilities were not synchronised with the induction of 'AA' as there was delay in completion of work services for modified hangars, independent storage facility and separate training-cum-accommodation centre at AF Station 'S-3', which affected smooth functioning of 'AA'," the report said.

Talking about the Su-30 aircraft, which the CAG identified as 'C', it said shortfalls in performance of aircraft and airborne system as received were yet (August 2015) to be resolved.

"Setting up of service support centres was inordinately delayed for want of required systems/equipment. Serviceability of aircraft fleet was also low.

"Manpower for 'C' aircraft squadron was not sanctioned even after 19 years of its induction," CAG said.
A decade has gone by and we are still hearing low servicibility issues with yet another type in the force. There seems to be systematic failure in the lifecycle management of products after they are inducted.
Karan M
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Re: AEW&C News & Discussion

Post by Karan M »

Looks like the IL-78s are maintenance dawgs. Why am I not surprised? Is there any Russian aircraft we buy which does NOT have these issues? Of course, the usual suspects will blame babus, HAL, the sun, the moon.. except Russian industry which seems to be singularly incapable of providing after sales support.
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Re: AEW&C News & Discussion

Post by Philip »

Reasons manifold.The IL-76s were brand new,not old ones. Anyway al old IL-76s are being upgraded to serve at least another 2 decades.

The report also says that no thought was given to after sales support,etc! This is simply incredible, how the MOD negotiates and sign deals. Methinks that it is a deliberate policy,so that a crisis evolves,and fire-fighting measures are required later on with cost escalations,etc. Why can't the IAF or any of the other two services insist as part of the RFP for any weapon system to be procured,a min of 5 years support.spares,etc.? In civil airline deals,there are dry leases,wet leases,etc. Why can't the same procedures be used for milware?

Besides, scope for increasing operational efficiency of 'AA' aircraft was restricted due to absence of training to aircrew on air to air refuelling (AAR) and non-acquisition of additional land for extension of runway length at AF Station 'S-3'," the CAG said in its report submitted to the Parliament.
Lalmohan
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Re: AEW&C News & Discussion

Post by Lalmohan »

something to do with the budgeting process perhaps and the perception of getting a good deal in the short term...?
Karan M
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Re: AEW&C News & Discussion

Post by Karan M »

The flight hour issue is overblown. Per CAG less hours vs planned flown, but many reasons, weather, lack of available support assets also. Those of course linked to Su-30 availability whose blame firmly lies in part with the Russians. But reasonable hours flown somewhere around the order of 300 hrs/airframe/year instead of 500 planned. Issues galore with delayed IAF maint set up etc but getting fixed.
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Re: AEW&C News & Discussion

Post by Mort Walker »

Mihir wrote:True, but the last of the three A-50s were delivered more than five years ago. And if the IAF lacks operational experience, those birds should be flying harder than ever on training missions and exercises.

When was the last time we saw photos or news snippets of the planes, I wonder?
You need a crew that is trained in air traffic control, ECM, radar operations and in-flight radar maintenance. Aside from air frame and engine maintenance, you need to have a logistics operations which can support the hardware and software of the avionics, communications, ECM suite, and radar. They must all work together to make an AWACS functional. No easy task and although the A-50 Phalcon was purchased, were sufficient Capex funds provided to the IAF for establishing an airborne surveillance wing?
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Re: AEW&C News & Discussion

Post by Gyan »

Karan M wrote:Looks like the IL-78s are maintenance dawgs. Why am I not surprised? Is there any Russian aircraft we buy which does NOT have these issues? Of course, the usual suspects will blame babus, HAL, the sun, the moon.. except Russian industry which seems to be singularly incapable of providing after sales support.
This may well be true. But the missing data point is details about what orders were placed by IAF and when they were fulfilled. Has IAF/CAG provided any details, as to say, spares for 3 years were ordered one year in advance but not provided? Extent of delay etc? Lot of whining is because of delayed orders, piece meal orders, lack of adequate stocking and lack of grease.
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Re: AEW&C News & Discussion

Post by Sid »

Most damming part of the report in not about its availability, IMHO, but compromised functionality of new SIGNIT platforms (modified in Israel) used by RAW/IAF.

http://saiindia.gov.in/english/home/Our ... of2015.pdf
The contract required IAF to provide detailed information relating to performance of aircraft namely ‘F’. While providing (May 2007) detailed information of aircraft, IAF found that electrical power, cooling capacity and all up weight carrying capacity of the ‘F’ aircraft were not suitable for installation of ‘JJ’ system, due to its ageing. Air HQ opined (July 2007) to the Ministry that the advanced capabilities of the ‘JJ’ system would not be fully exploited on ‘F’ aircraft due to its limitations.
Audit observed (September 2014) that incorrect identification of ‘F’ aircraft as suitable aircraft platform and subsequent change of the same to ‘G’ aircraft resulted in delay in installation of ‘JJ’ system (April 2012) which was originally planned to be installed in February 2009. Further, performance of the ‘JJ’ systems was not found (July 2014) satisfactory on both the ‘G’ aircraft by IAF since its installation due to large number of faults relating to hardware as well as software. Three Time Serve Units115 (TSU) became critically unserviceable since April 2014 which had reduced the availability of operational aircraft to one.
Another gaffe where MOD/IAF never thought about reducing the number of upgrade kits (for An-32) even thought available aircraft were down from original due to crash.
Under the contract, TTLE140, re-equipment and overhauling of 40 aircraft was to be carried out in Ukraine and similar process for balance 65 aircraft in India for which the contract included procurement of 65 sets of equipment/ spares at a cost of `11.45 crore per set.

We observed (August 2012) that out of 65 aircraft, which were to undergo overhaul and re-equipment in India, one aircraft had crashed on 9 June 2009 at Machuka, Arunachal Pradesh before the contract was concluded. However the number of aircraft to be overhauled / re-equipped in India for which equipment / spares were to be procured was not reduced to 64 at the time of conclusion (15 June 2009) of the contract by the Ministry.
Karan M
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Re: AEW&C News & Discussion

Post by Karan M »

Like I said TFTA Israeli/Russian/French gear also comes with flaws and frequently fails.
Karan M
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Re: AEW&C News & Discussion

Post by Karan M »

In the above, multiple gizmos in AWACS had frequent failures and had to be replaced. The oh so shiny Israeli gear packed into the Gulfstreams does not work and has to be fixed. Russian MiG-21 upgrade, Kopyo doesn't work in A2G and AA-12 missiles need to be fixed. Su-30, FBW fails earlier than normal.
At least in desi gear, the manufacturers are in India and we keep trying till we fix things, for all these imports we have to renegotiate contracts and pay through nose for rectification.
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Re: AEW&C News & Discussion

Post by rkhanna »

In the above, multiple gizmos in AWACS had frequent failures and had to be replaced. The oh so shiny Israeli gear packed into the Gulfstreams does not work and has to be fixed. Russian MiG-21 upgrade, Kopyo doesn't work in A2G and AA-12 missiles need to be fixed. Su-30, FBW fails earlier than normal.
karan - If every piece of gear we touch starts to fail does the problem lie with the user? Do other users of the same stuff also have such Chronic problems?
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Re: AEW&C News & Discussion

Post by vina »

rkhanna wrote:karan - If every piece of gear we touch starts to fail does the problem lie with the user? Do other users of the same stuff also have such Chronic problems?
Oh. They do. But it just doesnt get reported. The IAF will shut up and swallow it in the name of "operational details/secrecy" for foreign stuff but will try blue murder and try to nit pick every small stuff in a local platform and try to kill them even before they are fielded! IA is even worse.

The only way out is to induct American platforms that are atleast 10 years old and have all the kinks largely ironed out and the large installed base in the US gives a proven and working supply /repair/ chain. Russian gear, even if a couple of decades old is still to unreliable (despite, the screw driver giri /licensed assembly that passes for indigenisation in India). Spares/consumables, everything will be a problem for Russian gear.
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Re: AEW&C News & Discussion

Post by Kakarat »

CCS clears acquisition of two more AWACS

The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) on Tuesday cleared a proposal to acquire two more Airborne Warning and Control Systems (AWACS) at the cost of Rs.7,500 crore under a tripartite contract with Israel and Russia.

The Indian Air Force already had three such platforms, which give an ability to see deep inside enemy territory. All three AWACS, comprise Israeli-made radars mounted on Russian heavy transport planes IL-76. ...
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Re: AEW&C News & Discussion

Post by Zynda »

Any news on our Embraer based AEW&C? Been a while since we heard about it.
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Re: AEW&C News & Discussion

Post by Aditya G »

Kakarat wrote:CCS clears acquisition of two more AWACS

The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) on Tuesday cleared a proposal to acquire two more Airborne Warning and Control Systems (AWACS) at the cost of Rs.7,500 crore under a tripartite contract with Israel and Russia.

The Indian Air Force already had three such platforms, which give an ability to see deep inside enemy territory. All three AWACS, comprise Israeli-made radars mounted on Russian heavy transport planes IL-76. ...
Hmmm already there were pics circulating of the IL-76 body being shipped to Israel last year....
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Re: AEW&C News & Discussion

Post by Shreeman »

And they pooh poohed the neuj here when it was first mentioned. Shipped too? years ago, not just one year, may be. But if the CAG points out lack of crew, runway, parts, maintenance, air refueling then will five change anything from three? Plus they are russian, planes that not being made anymore (buy some c17s!), will they even work in the summer heat?
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Re: AEW&C News & Discussion

Post by Aditya_V »

So here again UPA ordered 2 +1 AW aircraft and left the whole AEW/AWACS dead. And they had surpluses then?
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Re: AEW&C News & Discussion

Post by Kakarat »

GIF of DRDO AEW&C flypast at Iron Fist 2016

https://twitter.com/kakarat2001/status/ ... 1651522561

Its a beautiful bird, they should at least order another 3 and base them in the North East
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Re: AEW&C News & Discussion

Post by Karan M »

rkhanna wrote:
In the above, multiple gizmos in AWACS had frequent failures and had to be replaced. The oh so shiny Israeli gear packed into the Gulfstreams does not work and has to be fixed. Russian MiG-21 upgrade, Kopyo doesn't work in A2G and AA-12 missiles need to be fixed. Su-30, FBW fails earlier than normal.
karan - If every piece of gear we touch starts to fail does the problem lie with the user? Do other users of the same stuff also have such Chronic problems?
RKhanna, these issues are common across multiple countries, if we see EF availability rates or NH-90 ... the list goes on and on and on...

The issue is fairly straightforward IMO. There is one MIC in teh world which invests a huge amount in its gear and gets it to high reliability and with minimal fuss for the customer IF things work out (even they can have issues). The Khans. The problem is their political stance which complicates things for us - Ford Foundation, UCSRIF etc. plus attempts to maintain a balance between India and TSP. So India goes shopping to Israel, Russia and France (last is last option because its so expensive). Russian and Israeli gear more often than not, is also work in progress and what exacerbates things is we have them push their development to the limits. We don't buy even what they have in service but one level beyond. So that's another complicating factor and why we have further teething issues.

Now to add to all the above is ludicrous budgeting and lack of oversight from MOD. So MOD gives less RE (Revenue Expenditure) which means IAF will have less money for spares, and on top of it, allows IAF to shop around for programs like MMRCA. Any MOD with any common sense would have first sat down with IAF and fixed what they did have, instead of going around another wild goose chase.

So, now, that's what the MOD is finally appearing to be doing under Parrikar. That means stuff with teething issues which have been (mostly) fixed or need constant involvement with OEM to get fixed will get addressed more easily and we will have enough spares to intensively use them and not park most on the workshop premise

Also, we need to ramp up R&D investments to the point that we have multiple local firms offering to supply missiles etc and so we dont have to run to Ukraine to buy obsolete R-27s because the oh-so-fancy R-77s don't work or we can't fly them in peacetime because their life gets used up doublequick.

This time MOD has committed to spending more on R&D as well. Payoffs will come in the future.

For now, IMHO, we need privatization of mass volume items - eg ammunition and also, a focus on fixing what we already have in terms of war wastage reserves
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