NEWS
The Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) are at odds over development of an Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) capability, with DRDO promoting indigenous development of the radar system and the service wanting an overseas acquisition. DRDO has floated a global tender for aircraft for mounting the home-grown radar so it is not put on hold by the new government, an IAF source said. But since the AWACS radar exists only on the drawing board, completion of the programme by 2020 is unlikely to be achieved, given DRDO’s history with high-technology projects. The IAF has an urgent requirement for 10 additional AWACS aircraft and does not want to wait for indigenous development.

VIEWS
In March this year, the Ministry of Defence floated a global tender for the supply of suitable aircraft with necessary structural modifications for the installation of an AWACS radar developed indigenously by the DRDO. Bids are required to be submitted by the middle of July this year.

The AWACS made its first appearance in the world in the early 1970s in the Yom Kippur war when in the face of a complete rout, with the help of this new platform, the Israeli armed forces decisively turned the tide of the battle against the Egyptian forces. Post-war analysis indicated that the employment of AWACS aircraft by the Israeli forces had contributed decisively to the ultimate outcome of that war.

The IAF’s quest for AWACS aircraft began with a $1.5 billion tripartite agreement in January 2004 with Israel and Russia for three Phalcon radar mounted IL-76 AWACS aircraft. These aircraft have already been inducted into the IAF and are operational. Action is also in hand to procure two more of such systems. However, unconfirmed reports in the media indicate that the deal has run into some rough weather due to sharp cost escalation. The IAF is hopeful that the issue will be resolved soon enough.

The AWACS fleet has enhanced the capability of the IAF to track movement of aircraft operating at even ultra low levels deep inside enemy territory as well as direct own combat aircraft employed in the air defence role. Operating in a net-centric environment, the fleet of AWACS aircraft of the IAF provides enhanced situational awareness for all elements and the capability to project aerospace power effectively. In the assessment of the IAF, in the long term, the service needs a total of 15 AWACS platforms including the five already under induction, to provide round the clock surveillance of the complete land borders with the two not-so-friendly neighbours.

On parallel track, the DRDO has developed an indigenous Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) system radar that has already been mounted on a much smaller platform, the Embraer 145 executive jet. Three such aircraft have been acquired from Brazil at a cost of $210 million and having been fitted with the AEW&C radar, are currently undergoing trials after successful completion of which, these platforms would be inducted into the IAF. Being tier-II platforms as compared with the IL-76, these Embraer 145 based systems operate at a lower operational level and serve to augment aerial surveillance capability of the air defence establishment of the IAF. Based on the experience of the initial inductions, the IAF may opt to order additional such systems in the future.

In order to derive advantage from the expertise gained by DRDO in the development of Embraer 145 based AEW&C system, in February 2014, the government approved a project for the indigenous development of AWACS radar. The timeline for the completion of the project was specified as seven years from the date of formal sanction of the programme. In the pursuit of this programme, DRDO has opted for a conventional circular radar dome that will house the indigenously developed Active Electronically Scanned Array Radar. However, the space requirements for the radar and its systems are expected to be so large that it will require a transport aircraft of a size considerably bigger than the Embraer 145. The platform for the AWACS programme would have to be an aircraft such as the Boeing 767 or the Airbus A330 on which the system can be mounted with ease. Such a platform will also provide adequate cabin space for the number of work stations the system will require. An aircraft like the IL-76 would also be suitable but DRDO is in favour of a platform currently in use in civil aviation industry so as to leverage commercial maintenance ecosystems already available in the country. Currently Boeing has an AWACS version of the 767. Airbus could modify the A330 as has been done by the company for the in-flight refuelling role.

India’s thrust towards indigenisation is undoubtedly laudable. However, in this particular case, as the IAF requires only ten platforms, the huge investment the project entails, may not be justifiable. Besides, the track record of the Indian aerospace industry and the R&D organisation in respect of delivery schedules and cost control, does not inspire confidence. The IAF needs this force multiplier urgently and cannot risk delay in delivery as it will have debilitating impact on operational capability. It is therefore understandable that the IAF prefers outright purchase as against indigenous effort.