In a move to bolster the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) surveillance capabilities, the government is all set to acquire two PHALCON airborne warning and control systems (AWACS) aircraft from Israel by next week.
Sources say that the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) is all set to give its final nod to the deal after extensive inter-ministerial consultations. The deal, valued at around $1 billion presently, was derailed a couple of times in the past due to the high costs involved.
The deal would entail acquisition of the two AWACS, with the Israeli PHALCON early-warning radar system mounted on Russian Ilyushin-76 heavy-lift aircraft. The radar and the platform will be integrated in Israel and will take about two to three years for the delivery of the complete system.
The Phalcons are powerful “eyes in the sky” which can detect and track incoming fighters, cruise missiles and drones much before ground-based radars meanwhile directing defence assets to tackle any breach of air space.
India has three PHALCON AWACS (acquired by IAF between 2009-2011 under a $1.1 billion deal inked by India, Israel and Russia in 2004) with a 360 degree rotodome mounted on top of the aircraft and two DRDO-built AWACS with 240 degree rotodome. China has 28 AWACS and Pakistan has seven for directing the air battle in the worst case scenario. The need for more AWACS was first felt post-Balakot. Pakistan was able to cover its territory round-the-clock to detect any intrusion in its air space and the IAF was, at time, vulnerable due to the limitation of its resources.
