SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
In a development that could reshape India’s airborne early warning and control capabilities, Brazilian aerospace giant Embraer has confirmed ongoing discussions regarding the supply of more aircraft for the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) Netra Mk1 Airborne Early Warning and Control System (AEW&CS) program. Embraer has proposed its Praetor 600, a super mid-size business jet, as the platform for the next phase of this critical surveillance initiative.
The Praetor 600, while smaller than the ERJ145 currently used in the Netra Mk1, brings significant advantages to the table.
Embraer claims that the Praetor 600 can offer nearly double the operational range of the ERJ145, enhancing the AEW&CS’s ability to monitor larger areas without refueling. With a service ceiling of 45,000 feet versus the ERJ145’s 37,000 feet, the Praetor 600 could potentially improve radar performance by allowing operations at higher altitudes, where radar waves can travel further without obstruction.
The aircraft boasts a maximum cruise speed of 0.83 Mach, slightly better than the ERJ145, and its superior fuel capacity leads to increased on-station endurance, meaning longer surveillance missions can be conducted.
The IAF has been operating the Netra Mk1 AEW&CS on three ERJ145 platforms provided by Embraer, which were used for the initial development of the system. With the need to expand this capability, the IAF had planned to procure six additional ERJ145 platforms. However, since the production of the ERJ145 has ceased, the only option for acquiring these aircraft would be from the used civilian market, which poses challenges in terms of availability, condition, and conversion costs.
Embraer’s offer of the Praetor 600 comes as a strategic alternative, providing new, advanced aircraft directly from the manufacturer rather than relying on older, repurposed commercial jets. This proposal could not only meet the IAF’s requirement for six more AEW&CS platforms but also potentially introduce efficiencies and modern technology into the fleet.
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