SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG.
According to a report by the “Shephard Press Limited,” DRDO’s Centre for Airborne Studies (CABS) and the Indian Air force (IAF) might be looking to procure six more EMB-145 AEW platforms over three that have been already inducted into the IAF.
While there is no clarity if fresh orders for EMB-145 will be over six Airbus A321-based Airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) that already have been transferred from Air-India to IAF/DRDO. But all tender documents point out that A321 based AEW&C program is still a go and the first aircraft will be handed over to IAF in 5 years.
IAF needs 18 AWACS and AEW&C aircraft but the Indian Air Force (IAF) operates only three Phalcon AWACS and three EMB-145 AEW&C aircraft that’s a shortfall of 12 aircraft. Former Air Chief Marshal (ACM) Arup Raha while delivering a talk on ” The Chanakya Dialogues” said that India doesn’t have force multipliers like AWACS and AEW&C aircraft to provide 24×7 coverage for one theater commands and its near impossible to have 24×7 coverage on 3-4 other theater commands.
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