DRDO to build 6 new 'Airborne Early Warning and Control planes' on Air India planes

New Delhi: India is going to make six new Airborne Early Warning and Control planes to be developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on aircraft from Air India to further improve Air Force`s surveillance capabilities along borders with China and Pakistan. 

The move is likely to give a major boost to the indigenous defence industry. The project has reportedly been planned in a way to promote Make in India in defence and Aatmanirbhar Bharat. 

Citing government sources, an ANI report said that as per the discussions on the AEW&C Block 2 aircraft to be developed by the DRDO under a Rs 10,500 crore project, these aircraft would be acquired from the Air India fleet and modified to fly with a radar that will give 360-degree surveillance capability to the defence forces.

The six new `eyes in the sky` would be stationed at different places in the countries for effective surveillance long both the borders, the sources said. 

Sources told ANI, "The six AEW&C block two planes would be highly capable than their predecessor NETRA plane and provide 360-degree coverage deep inside the enemy territory during missions. The government is expected to clear the project soon."

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The project to build the AEW&C system on existing aircraft from the Air India fleet would boost the indigenous defence industry and India may not buy the six Airbus 330 transport aircraft planned to be acquired earlier from the European firm, the sources told ANI.

Earlier, the DRDO had planned to build six Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) on the Airbus 330 aircraft for which some facilities were planned to be created in Bengaluru. As per plans, the six new aircraft would be sent to a European destination to the original equipment manufacturer for modification of the planes for installing the radar, the sources said.

The report further said that Block-I of the project was delayed beyond the scheduled timelines but with the prior experience under its belt, the Centre for Airborne Studies lab of DRDO is planning to complete it in a shorter timeframe.

Notably, the IAF has three PHALCON AWACS systems, bought from Israel and Russia, under which the radar is provided by the Israelis whereas the platform used is the Russian Ilyushin-76 transport aircraft.

The two NETRA aircraft provided by the DRDO have also performed very well in the recent conflicts where they have flown extensively to keep an eye on the enemy activity.