One more domestically developed airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft will join the Indian Air Force (IAF) on Dec. 23 to keep a long-range eye of aircraft of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) and the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) as these fly well inside their country's borders with India.

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The new Defense Research and Development Organization Airborne Early Warning and Control System (DRDO AEW&C) aircraft based on a Brazilian-made airframe will give advanced early warning to the IAF about attacking aircraft and missiles launched by the PLAAF and PAF. IAF fighters can then be vectored to intercept and destroy the enemy planes.

Two radiating planar arrays are mounted back-to-back atop the fuselage of the DRDO AEW&C as an "active antenna array unit" (AAAU) providing 240° coverage of the airspace around the aircraft.

This radar array is an active electronically scanned array (AESA) primary radar system with an Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) system.

The AESA system will also have ESM (Electronic Support Measures) and CSM (Communications Support Measures) abilities. Datalinks will connect the DRDO AEW&C with IAF fighters; ground control systems and SATCOM (satellite communication systems).

The aircraft platform selected for the DRDO AEW&C is the Brazilian-made "Embraer ERJ 145." India initially bought three ERJ 145 planes for $300 million. It's these three aircraft that are now seeing service with the IAF.

This Indian spy-in-the-sky will be protected by a comprehensive self-defense system. DRDO AEW&C is part of India's push to develop an indigenous airborne early warning and control system for the IAF.

"The plan is to induct the Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEWC) aircraft on December 23 at our newly developed Chitradurga Aeronautical Range in Karnataka," said DRDO officials.

"The plane can act as a command-and-control center to support air defense operations like the AWACS aircraft India got from Israel, and can monitor multiple target aircraft and areas.

"The AEWC system can support the Air Force in offensive strike missions and assist forces in the tactical battle area in case of hostilities with the enemy countries."

India plans to buy and modify at least 30 of the DRDO AEW&C planes. Six more Embraers were ordered in 2010 and it's been reported the IAF plans to acquire 20 more of these aircraft to be transformed into DRDO AEW&C planes.

TagsIndian Air Force, airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraf, Defense Research and Development Organization Airborne Early Warning and Control System aircraft, DRDO AEW&C, Embraer ERJ 145, People's Liberation Army Air Force, Pakistan Air Force