Airborne Early Warning & Control: News & Discussion

[Prem Kumar]

The IAF can be trusted to do the right thing after all other options have been exhausted.

What was obvious to armchair generals like us on this forum for years, finally dawns on the professionals. Dont know whether to laugh or cry.

[Pratyush]

As long as it gets done. We should celebrate.

But always remember, there is many a slip between the cup and the lips.

[VishnuS]

As much as I want to celebrate 6 additional order of Netra MK1s. I think this is an indication of terrible situation of our Non Combat Aircraft.

Netra MK1 was built a long time ago. IAF was adamant in getting even the third bird!

Netra MK2 came as compromised upgrade, just like how LCA MK2 came into existence.

Netra MK2 is at least 2-3 years away from production! Under these circumstances order of MK1s can mean only two things!!

1. There is some issue that needs to be fixed with MK2s and they're not available by 2027.

2. We have run out of spares for our Phalcons, even cannibalising Cargo IL 76s wasn't enough!

Well, there is another option, Fanne Bhai suggested, IAF finally decided to buy some Netra MK1s with their unused CapEx.

As much as I hate to say it, I believe option 2 as Rus Ukr war had resulted in exhaustion of our spares and I hope that there are no issues with Netra MK2.

Thus I rest my case.

[Aditya_V]

My personal feeling is this is not correct news, the new Netra's will come on A319/A320/A321 platform - this is in the works for a few years, not out of production EM 145

[Pratyush]

The Netra Mk1 is to be built using used Emb 145 airframes.

Embrere would know just how many were built and how many are going to be replaced following 10 to 15 years of passanger service.

So it's not out of the realm of possibility that this program will see the light of day.

[basant]

My personal feeling is this is not correct news, the new Netra's will come on A319/A320/A321 platform - this is in the works for a few years, not out of production EM 145

Airbus is for Mk-2.

Ground work started for 6 Netra Mark-1 || 6 Netra Mark-II AEW&C will be delivered by 2028

[souravB]

They could also have finalized the MTA for IAF & planned to put chapaati on it. An AESA paneled non-rotating unit would've been possible. But I'll wait till 2035 for the idea to dawn on IAF.

[SidSom]

They could also have finalized the MTA for IAF & planned to put chapaati on it. An AESA paneled non-rotating unit would've been possible. But I'll wait till 2035 for the idea to dawn on IAF.

I think we have to be thankful that IAF is so Merciful and benevolent. At least they have not come up with Specs for Unobtainum

[Neela]

The IAF can be trusted to do the right thing after all other options have been exhausted.

What was obvious to armchair generals like us on this forum for years, finally dawns on the professionals. Dont know whether to laugh or cry.

To be fair, "another 6" or "another 10" , "another 20" was around for some time now....during AeroIndia and even before .

17 December, 2020 Govt sanctions 6 new ‘eyes in the sky’ worth Rs 10,994 crore for Air Force


If Saab can sell European priced Erieyes , India can sell a lot more at a more competitive price. I am willing to bet that we will export Mk1 within the next 5 years.

[fanne]

Emb 145 based Netra (Netra 1) was so obvious choice (like staring in your face). Embraer already has the experience to make the changes and we have a battle proven system at a lower cost. Then comes GaN based system and other improvements. For same performance, this takes half the energy (making energy starved Emb 145 a much better option). I wished (only if it does not delay the project), a forward looking radar making the platform 300 degrees capable. The only place it can not look is 60 degrees in its rear. Some of the tech from Netra MK2 can also flow. However many we buy, we buy at least 1 extra just for DRDO for continuous improvement that keeps on feeding back to the whole fleet.
My back of the envelope calculation says we need two planes to cover a front. We have possibly these fronts -1)Kashmir and Punjab - most air battle will be here as will be ground action, 2) Rajasthan (Longewala anyone) 3)Gujrat (we have many industrial units there) 4) Sikkim 5) Ladhak 6) Arunachal. We need 12 planes for 24/7 surveillance, add 3-4 for maintenance (Out of 3 IL-76, we would be lucky to have 1 fully ready), 1 for continuous improvement. That is 17 planes right there. If you include, Bombay high/ IN bases in KA, Visakhapatnam (triad base), A&N, and Uttarakhand/Nepal border - we have 4/5 more places that needs AWACS. @150 Mil, it is a bargain, We need 18 minimum now and this 6 is in the right direction.

[mody]

It would seem that the Netra MK2, would be at least 4-5 years away from getting ready. If they would be getting ready earlier, then opting for additional Netra MK1, would not make sense. For the Netra MK2, certification of the aircraft by Airbus would also be required, along with Airbus certifying the modifications being made to the aircraft at each stage.

Opting for the out of production ERJ-145 also means that speed of executing the order would be crucial for IAF. If the order comes through by 2028, then IAF would have 8 Netra MK1 along with the 3 Phalcons in service. By 2030-31 the 6 Netra MK2 might also enter service, giving us enough numbers.

[Rakesh]

VIDEO: https://x.com/ANI/status/1725902841070690403?s=20 ---> On surveillance & target acquisition and reconnaissance of (I-STAR) aircraft, Center For Airborne Systems (CABS) Director Dr K Rajalakshmi Menon says, "After the success of Airborne Early Warning and Control System (AEW&C) which we delivered to Indian Air Force, it wanted to look at another aspect of surveillance. AEW&C looks predominantly for air-to-air. The Air Force is also required to do ground-to-air surveillance, that is when they projected the need for I-STAR. Because the requirement over there is to have a very good imaging radar. Very high-resolution imaging radar...This was projected somewhere in 2015, so DRDO had taken up a technology demonstration project & we have already progressed in that and the technology that is required is also progressing...In parallel Air Force has moved the case for the I-STAR program..."

VIDEO: https://x.com/ANI/status/1725903520954753149?s=20 ---> Center For Airborne Systems (CABS) Director Dr K Rajalakshmi Menon says, "AEW&C is mainly for air-to-air detection, it will detect the incoming aircraft. Whereas I-STAR the usage is mainly like infiltration...It is basically the surveillance of what is happening across the border..."

[Rakesh]

It has been years since I have seen the IAF's A-50 Phalcon in action.

https://x.com/AdithyaKM_/status/1727388 ... 77401?s=20 ---> An IAF A-50 Phalcon AWACS deployed in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands during Exercise Dweep Shakti.

[Rakesh]

https://x.com/ajitkdubey/status/1731219 ... 37746?s=20 ---> Indian Air Force’s Airbus-321 fleet crew has a beautiful patch. The plane also looks impressive and are in great condition. These would be ultimately used for flying as Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft to keep an eye on adversaries.

[Rakesh]

Part 1: viewtopic.php?p=2610704#p2610704

Part 2: viewtopic.php?p=2610757#p2610757

https://x.com/writetake/status/1742466505810571413?s=20 --->

* The first Airborne Early Warning and Control Systems (AEW&CS/Netra) was handed over to IAF in 2017 & the second one in 2019.

* The proposal for one more Netra came in 2021 and the delivery was done on 2023.

* The operational might of Netra was evident during Balakot strikes and later at the G-20 summit.

* IAF is now processing case for additional 6 AEW&CS MK1As, with enhanced range and newer technologies.

* Several additional features demanded by IAF will be onboard the MK1A.

* The Human Mission Interface (HMI) & Data Links will all be upgraded in the new block.

* The mission suite too will be embedded with newer technology, driving away the obsolete ones.

* IAF sources say the the third Netra itself had some additional features incorporated compared to the first two planes.

* Most importantly, several imported systems are getting replaced in Mk1A, including ground-based Data Links, ground-based & airborne terminals, ELINT and RWR.

* From the project sanction, the deliveries should be completed within 5 years.

* Even after the DAC nod, the fund flow might take up to one year and this again depends upon the CCS. So, project sanction will come into play or can be counted only when the funds are in.

* Despite some early setbacks, it is commendable to see how CABS have literally bounced back and delivered several systems for various projects of DRDO.

* AEW&CS Mk1A would be on the EMB-145.

* No change in the external configuration.

[Neela]

Part 3. Click here for Part 1 (viewtopic.php?p=2610704#p2610704) and Part 2 (viewtopic.php?p=2610757#p2610757) of this twitter thread.

https://x.com/writetake/status/1742466505810571413?s=20 --->

* The first Airborne Early Warning and Control Systems (AEW&CS/Netra) was handed over to IAF in 2017 & the second one in 2019.
* The proposal for one more Netra came in 2021 and the delivery was done on 2023.
* The operational might of Netra was evident during Balakot strikes and later at the G-20 summit.
* IAF is now processing case for additional 6 AEW&CS MK1As, with enhanced range and newer technologies.
* Several additional features demanded by IAF will be onboard the MK1A.
* The Human Mission Interface (HMI) & Data Links will all be upgraded in the new block.
* IAF sources say the the third Netra itself had some additional features incorporated compared to the first two planes.
* From the project sanction, the deliveries should be completed within 5 years.
* Even after the DAC nod, the fund flow might take up to one year and this again depends upon the CCS. So, project sanction will come into play or can be counted only when the funds are in.
* AEW&CS Mk1A would be on the EMB-145.

A criminal waste of about 3 years.
You dont chose EMB-145 as the platform willy-nilly . You must have thought about it long and hard before going down that route. And then you had a chance to use the platform.
You even have enhancements done in the 3 rd version .
It boggles the mind that 10 of these arent inducted in a Continuous Improvement Program - a standard practice. Unbelievable incompetency from a business side where per unit costs come down significantly when 3 units are ordered vs 10 at the same time. Leads me to suspect that the lobby has refined their tactics . Order 3. Pause. Allow for time to pass. Order 6 again but at increased prices. Is this how they are making their cut ?

[Neela]

And why aren't they talking about exports here. Show the shiny shiny in Expos and that's it?

[Rakesh]

Part 1: viewtopic.php?p=2610704#p2610704

Part 2: viewtopic.php?p=2610757#p2610757

Part 3: viewtopic.php?p=2610850#p2610850

Part 4: viewtopic.php?p=2611275#p2611275

https://x.com/writetake/status/1743957334911803482?s=20 --->

* The program was sanctioned in 2021 for the design & development of 6 AEW&CS Mk-II aircraft on proven A-321.
* Based on the success of AEWCSMk1 Netra, IAF had projected the need for advanced version.
* The Mk-IIs will have a coverage of 300 degrees as compared to 240 degrees of Netra.
* Enhanced ranges even better than the imported systems.
* Several advanced systems with newer technologies onboard.
* IAF sources say the new bird will have data link system with better and higher data rate capabilities.
* The number of operators have doubled on Mk-2 as compared to Netra.
* Tenders are out for the selection process to identify the Development cum Production Partner (DcPP).
* Once DRDO starts the delivery of the systems, the selected DcPP will be the single-point contact for the user.
* MoD sources say that CABS will in turn transfer the know-how on development, integration, testing & maintenance to the DcPP.
* The 6 A-321s released by Air India are now with the IAF doing some internal duties.
* The DcPP is for mission systems development and the task of modification of aircraft is with Airbus.
* After the modifications are complete, the aircraft will come to CABS for integration.
* The first AEW&CS Mk-II should join the IAF ranks in 3-4 years from now.

[Rakesh]

Part 1: viewtopic.php?p=2610704#p2610704

Part 2: viewtopic.php?p=2610757#p2610757

Part 3: viewtopic.php?p=2610850#p2610850

Part 4: viewtopic.php?p=2611275#p2611275

Part 5: viewtopic.php?p=2611276#p2611276

https://x.com/writetake/status/1744973549742526467?s=20 ---->

* Serious work for ISTAR began at CABS in 2015.
* The project took a detour from DTTI to a fully desi mission, forcing DRDO to rework the plan.
* CABS has taken up a Technology Demonstration project with considerable work already done in the development of systems required for air-to-ground surveillance.
* Sources confirm that ISTAR will have very advanced technologies in terms of resolution and ranges of sensor. Multiple sensors will be on board.
* IAF sources say that they have indicated state-of-the-art operational requirements in terms of image exploitation.
* "The requirement of such an asset is long pending and is the need of the hour to enable surveillance and reconnaissance missions. The benefit can be leveraged by Tri-Services," says a source.
* IAF has put up the case for design and development of ISTAR by DRDO and it is under process.
* The platform will have high service ceiling and will be selected through a global tendering process.
* DRDO will initiate the process for global tendering of the platform only after the DAC clearance.
* Ahead of DAC, the proposal should go to Defence Procurement Board (DPB), which should happen soon.
* Post-DAC nod, it would go to CCS sanction and from then in 5 years' time the first ISTAR plane would roll out.
* DRDO says CABS scientists are already developing advanced systems to nullify obsolete tech.
* IAF has projected the need for 3 platforms and the contenders could be Boeing, Bombardier, new variants of Gulf Stream, etc.
* ISTAR boasts of very high data-rate links, better algorithms, gen-next image exploitation, automatic target recognition, change detection and derive actionable intelligence, to name a few.
* ISTAR promises to set new benchmarks for IAF's NCW capabilities with better air-to-ground surveillance abilities.
* It will be a game-changer for Services and a challenging prog for DRDO\CABS, adding might to the Atmanirbhar Bharat mission.

[Rakesh]

Part 1: viewtopic.php?p=2610704#p2610704

Part 2: viewtopic.php?p=2610757#p2610757

Part 3: viewtopic.php?p=2610850#p2610850

Part 4: viewtopic.php?p=2611275#p2611275

Part 5: viewtopic.php?p=2611276#p2611276

Part 6: viewtopic.php?p=2611278#p2611278

Part 7 (FINAL PART): https://x.com/writetake/status/1746138939159671247?s=20 ---> THREAD ON CABS / DRDO - SIGINT & COMJAM (SCA)

* The Signal Intelligence and COMJAM Aircraft (SCA) project started at CABS in 2019 following IAF requirements.
* This is a manned multi-mission platform for electronic signal warfare long range and high endurance signal intelligence missions.
* Capable of Real-time Electronic Order of Battle (EORBAT) with combined capability of SIGNIT and COMJAM.
* Capable of AI-based emitter definition creation and emitter location fix.
* SCA as a passive surveillance asset will have the capability to identify and classify ELINT and COMINT emitters.
* In an operational scenario this asset may be the first to be deployed as the EW subsystems onboard will have the capability to intercept emitter signals from long ranges.
* The processed sensor data is down linked to the ground analysis stations for online and offline analysis.
* CABS is spearheading the program with DLRL and DEAL as participating labs for developing the SCA for IAF.
* The platform specs are being evolved.
* The system consists of several antennas and DRDO is looking for an ideal aircraft that will be able to house all these systems.
* RFI will be issued soon for the platform and post-DAC, the RFP as well will be out.
* The program is expected to be put up for DAC clearance soon.

WriteTake Conclusions:

* DRDO officials say that CABS is working on all types of airborne surveillance programs like air-to-air, air-to-ground, air-to-sea (maritime) and passive surveillance platforms, which is comparable to many of the system houses worldwide.
* The lessons from Ukraine war are that more assets must be up for surveillance to detect the enemy first and the Govt should support such programs on priority.
* All these surveillance systems are depended upon foreign OEMS because of the non-availability of desi transport fleet. The govt must give thrust to initiate transport aircraft development progs to address this issue.
* DRDO's official info site says that CABS has around 150 scientists and 200 support staff. It further adds that the lab is now headed by Dr Rajalakshmi Menon, its first woman Director. She is said to be part of CABS since 1988 and was part of the AEW&CS program from its concept to delivery.
* Kudos to this few dedicated, cohesive personnel of CABS churning out so many programs of complex system of systems, working with multiple users, different participating labs of DRDO, different platform OEMs, CEMILAC, DGAQA and many Indian industry partners -- and yet never chasing any publicity. The real unsung heroes of Aatmanirbhar Bharat!

[SidSom]

Part 7 (FINAL PART): https://x.com/writetake/status/1746138939159671247?s=20 ---> THREAD ON CABS / DRDO - SIGINT & COMJAM (SCA)

* SCA as a passive surveillance asset will have the capability to identify and classify ELINT and COMINT emitters.

Ye Yeevil Hindooo trying to pass of a ComJam aircraft as a "passive surveillance asset". SDRE much

[Prem Kumar]

Good to see progress on this front. A tech that no one will share with us.

Ananth Krishnan also tweeted about the ISTAR program, which has GMTI, SAR, ISAR etc for air to ground surveillance

https://twitter.com/writetake/status/17 ... 9742526467

The above Twitter feed talks about ISTAR also having SIGINT/COMINT capabilities. Not sure if its DDM or if it truly has a dual-purpose. If its the latter, how does it overlap with the dedicated SIGINT/COMINT aircraft program?

The requirement for ISTAR is for 3 aircraft, which seems woefully small, considering our 2 long borders. Secondly, given our Maoist, Islamic and other internal 0.5 menaces, we need these aircraft to fly inland as well, to pickup chatter about internal insurgencies/terror-attacks etc.

Hope the IAF does not piecemeal this out like they did with Netra, only to scramble later and steal-back DRDO's test-bed for operational use

[srai]

^^^
There should be a minimum viability order quantity for each R&D product. IMO, for the above type of aircraft that minimum would be 6 + 6 options. Armed forces and MIC need to have that understanding

[Ankit Desai]

India guns for 12 more 'eyes in sky'

The DRDO-IAF combine is actively pushing ahead with progammes to develop six Mark-1A as well as six Mark-2 versions of the Netra AEW&C aircraft, three of which were earlier built and inducted from February 2017 onwards.

-Ankit

[Rakesh]

As Pakistan, China fly ahead, India guns for 12 more 'eyes in sky'
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/ind ... s?from=mdr
06 Feb 2024

[Rakesh]

India to get 3 new spy planes, plan expected to be discussed by Defence Ministry next week
https://aninews.in/news/national/genera ... 206204501/
06 Feb 2024

Image Source: https://x.com/VivekSi85847001/status/17 ... 69357?s=20

[Rakesh]

India to get 3 new spy planes, plan expected to be discussed by Defence Ministry next week
https://aninews.in/news/national/genera ... 206204501/
06 Feb 2024

https://x.com/AdithyaKM_/status/1672171 ... 06817?s=20 ---> CABS SIGINT & COMJAM Aircraft (SCA) based on A-319.

[drnayar]

Passive intelligence gathering. thought AEW&C is an active one ?!.. and there no radome

Bhai log., this lot of 3 A319 are COMINT aircrafts., the other 3 are AEW&C !

also where are the 6 for the Netra ?! assuming 3 comes from the 6 used A319s

[Rakesh]

An interesting set of close up Netra AEW&C aircraft. Pictures are from 2021.

https://x.com/ReviewVayu/status/1423944 ... 47331?s=20 ---> The three platforms have the numbers:
* KW3554
* KW3555
* KW3556







https://x.com/VenkatATR2/status/1423960 ... 85218?s=20 ---> I’m loving the pics @ReviewVayu !

I got a few of my own during this year’s edition of Aero India.

[fanne]

what are the two exhausts in the end - APU exhaust and generator exhaust?

[fanne]

The basic EMB -145 has been highly modified to fit the Netra system. Airbus planes are going through that costly and time consuming exercise. It was criminal for IAF to stop at 3 EMB-145. Now the 6 more have been planned, I would say, they should go for some 3-4 more. The expense for modification and qualification time has already been taken care of. These extra EMB-145 will act as maintenance reserves, attrition reserves, for deployment in Andaman Nicobar, or even provide coverage for Vikrant/Vikramaditya/Vishal,Vijay ....when they ae operating within 1000 Km of our sea shore (which will be 99% of the case during war that we will fight).

One extra mod they can do, put even a small radar in the nose, it will provide 300 degree coverage, even if the coverage in the front 60% is not great. The front only comes in consideration is when the plane is going towards it's deployment area, or turning. When it is at station, 240 degree coverage is very adequate (if not ideal)

[Cybaru]

It's flying over Indian territory. 360 is not needed. Front is also not needed. Lots of ground radars can provide it picture. What is needed is the ability to see as deep as possible in the 240 degree set. Hoping they can mount a bigger unit on the A319 and it can accommodate bigger generators if needed. Agree with your post though. More is good.

[rajkumar]

How Indian Air Force Lost To Pakistan In The AWACS Numbers Game

https://swarajyamag.com/defence/how-ind ... mbers-game

The Ministry of Defence is likely to approve the Acceptance of Necessity for six indigenously-developed Netra Mk-1A advanced warning and control systems (AWACS) 'eye in the sky' aircraft for the Indian Air Force (IAF).

AWACS are airplanes with a large radar-dish mounted on the top of the airframe. These airplanes, with their high-powered radar, act as eyes in the skies for the IAF.

These airborne warning systems are more capable than ground mounted radars, due to land-based radars' physical limitations of the Earth's curvature limiting their field-of-view.

AWACS flying high in the sky can see everything and does not have these restrictions.

Currently, the IAF operates only five AWACS aircraft — three Israeli EL/M-2090 Phalcon mounted on Russian IL-76's A-50E/I heavy-lift jets bought in 2004 and inducted in 2009, and two Netra Mk-1 mounted on Brazilian Embraer ERJ-145 business jet, inducted in 2017.

An additional Netra Mk-1 is used by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for further development, rumoured to be transferred to the IAF.

However, the five AWACS that the IAF operates are way low in numbers compared to Pakistan's nine, let alone China's thirty.

This leaves the IAF on the back foot if an air skirmish were to happen — think a Là Swift Retort — or, even worse, a two-front air war with the IAF squaring off against the combined might of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) and the Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF).

But how did Pakistan Air Force manage to get ahead of the Indian Air Force?

Or rather, how did India fall behind in this race?

The answer lies in Pakistan's clear-eyed assessment about its capabilities and its limitation. Knowing fully well they couldn't match the IAF in terms of fighter jet numbers, they took a decision towards investing in AWACS — the ultimate force multipliers.

They ordered six Saab-2000 Erieye AWACS from Sweden in 2006 — an order that got trimmed to four after the fund crunch following the 2005 earthquake.

They didn’t stop there, adding another four ZDK-03 AWACS from China in 2008.

Pakistan kept the momentum with two more batches of three Erieye aircraft each in 2017 and 2020 from Saab, with the latest airframe from the 2020 order landing in December last year.

Yet, even after hastily retiring the Chinese-made ZDK-03 AWACS from its lineup, the PAF still flies more AWACS (nine) than India's measly five.

For the Indian defence establishment, it was a classic case of dropping the ball. The usual yarn about a cash crunch came up, and delays piled up. So much so, that the Defence Ministry is still negotiating over the follow-on contract for two more Phalcon AWACS with Israel, with no end in sight.

Moreover, the IAF, instead of going for more of the tried-and-tested Netra Mk-1 with better electronics and sensors, got sidetracked by dreams of a fancier, more capable 360° field-of-view AWACS, mounted on an Airbus A-330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT).

And this despite knowing all too well that the Defence Ministry was giving the thumbs down to buying the A-330 MRTT (needed separately for six mid-air refuelers) citing the same old tune of no money.

Only in 2020 did the MoD come up with a plan to grab six pre-owned Air-India Airbus A-321 jets and kit them out with a shiny new Netra Mk-1A radar, packed with Gallium Nitride-based transmitter and receiver modules, and more advanced sensors and electronics.

These six A-321 based Netra Mk-1A will take another three to four years to hit the skies.

Why the most logical option of installing upgraded Netra Mk-1 radar, sensors and electronics on the existing Embraer ERJ-145 is anyone's guess — leading to the ERJ-145s going out of production and the Defence Ministry now scrambling to find second-hand planes on the international market.

It is only now that better sense has prevailed and the Ministry looks set to green-light the order of six souped-up Netra Mk-1s on second-hand ERJ-145s.

When the IAF will actually get these AWACS to at least close the gap with Pakistan, is, ironically, still up in the air.

[Prem Kumar]

Swarajya usually picks it up after it has done the rounds on Twitter

Nevertheless, disgraceful lack of accountability by the IAF top brass. They come, give interviews, push some papers, they go, write books, give lectures.

None of them move the nation's defense preparedness forward in any meaningful way

[srai]

The past/current mentality is “we will order a few and then wait and see before making a decision on few more”.

Instead of “once it meets our specifications (close enough), we will place a mass order; and then in 15-years do a MLU with latest stuff”.

[mody]

The timelines for the proposed acquisition of 6 Netra MK-1A overlaps with the timeline for induction of the A321 based Netra MK2. Then why not opt for additional quantity of Netra MKII in place of the Netra MK1A? Additional 6 A321 aircrafts can be procured from the second hand market. In fact it might be easier to get second hand A321 aircrafts as compared to second hand ERJ-145. The Netra MKII will be more capable as compared to the Netra MK1A and the delivery time is almost going to be the same, it would make sense to go a more capable platform. The cost of the MKII will be higher than the MK1A, even more for additional quantity, as for the current MK-II project the aircrafts from Air India, were procured at a negligible cost. Maybe this is the only advantage.

[ashthor]

Who will tell that. Wont we be ahead of our neighbors then. Tauba tauba

[fanne]

The airbus awacs is planned in next 3-4 years, same like how amca was planned to be flying by 2025 or lcamk2 by 2023 or sitara some 10 years ago. Theo additional dependency is how soon airbus will do structural changes and certify it (and how much it will cost, cost must be settled by now). In case of ERJ the catch is to get the 6 used planes, the changes have been already worked and certified. It has lesser risk. I won’t be surprised both these get delayed, airbus one delayed more than erj one.

[drnayar]

Pakistan AF did not "build" anything they bought off the shelf from Sweden and China ..and the Chinese stuff was just junk. guys chill. The Indian AWACS / AEW&C would be a much more capable and cutting-edge platform

[Cain Marko]

Effing criminal negligence here by the powers that be. Can't believe they didn't order more Netras. IAF top brass should be taken to task.