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IAF's Israeli-Supplied Aerostat Damaged, Non-Operational
India's Parliament was Wednesday informed that one of Indian Air Force's (IAF) Aerostats supplied by Israeli defence firm Rafael has been damaged and that it is non-operational. Defence Minister AK Antony, in reply to questions from members of parliament in Rajya Sabha (House of States) the two Aerostat were bought by India from Rafael in 2002 and these two radars were supplied to IAF in 2007 and 2008 respectively. He also said the IAF was making efforts to recover the damaged Aerostat.
Antony said India had signed a contract for procurement of two Aerostats with Israeli defence firm Rafael on Mar 15, 2002. The contract was worth $175 million. The Aerostat radar, fitted on balloons, can detect a low-flying fighter aircraft up to 250 km away, apart from being useful in signal intelligence gathering.
The two Israeli radars were commissioned in the IAF on May 15, 2007 and May 15, 2008 respectively. "While one Aerostat system is working well, the other system was damaged due to sudden strong gust of wind on May 27, 2009, and became non-operational," Antony said in his replies.
"Steps have been initiated for recovery of the system," he added. Under the contract, Rafael promised a 10-year life for the radar systems. The recovery of the damaged Aerostat is an operation that will take about 18 month to complete as these radar balloons are deployed at 15,000-feet altitude.
In air force parlance, the maintenance operation for Aerostat radars is called 'snubbing'.
Antony told parliament that India's government auditor, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), had in a report commented on certain aspects of the IAF's Aerostat radars and that requisite action is being taken on it.
The CAG had, in its September 2011 report, pointed out that one of the Aerostat was "damaged substantially" and that IAF was inadequately staffed to monitor the radar system's deployment. This had resulted in an additional burden to the national exchequer of $75 million for repairs alone.
In reply to another question, Antony said some of the radars of Indian armed forces had become "outdated" due to change in technology and on completion of their useful service life. "Upgrading and replacement of the radars is a continuous process. Aging equipment is being replaced in a gradual and systematic manner to ensure that requisite capabilities are maintained," he added.
India's Parliament was Wednesday informed that one of Indian Air Force's (IAF) Aerostats supplied by Israeli defence firm Rafael has been damaged and that it is non-operational. Defence Minister AK Antony, in reply to questions from members of parliament in Rajya Sabha (House of States) the two Aerostat were bought by India from Rafael in 2002 and these two radars were supplied to IAF in 2007 and 2008 respectively. He also said the IAF was making efforts to recover the damaged Aerostat.
Antony said India had signed a contract for procurement of two Aerostats with Israeli defence firm Rafael on Mar 15, 2002. The contract was worth $175 million. The Aerostat radar, fitted on balloons, can detect a low-flying fighter aircraft up to 250 km away, apart from being useful in signal intelligence gathering.
The two Israeli radars were commissioned in the IAF on May 15, 2007 and May 15, 2008 respectively. "While one Aerostat system is working well, the other system was damaged due to sudden strong gust of wind on May 27, 2009, and became non-operational," Antony said in his replies.
"Steps have been initiated for recovery of the system," he added. Under the contract, Rafael promised a 10-year life for the radar systems. The recovery of the damaged Aerostat is an operation that will take about 18 month to complete as these radar balloons are deployed at 15,000-feet altitude.
In air force parlance, the maintenance operation for Aerostat radars is called 'snubbing'.
Antony told parliament that India's government auditor, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), had in a report commented on certain aspects of the IAF's Aerostat radars and that requisite action is being taken on it.
The CAG had, in its September 2011 report, pointed out that one of the Aerostat was "damaged substantially" and that IAF was inadequately staffed to monitor the radar system's deployment. This had resulted in an additional burden to the national exchequer of $75 million for repairs alone.
In reply to another question, Antony said some of the radars of Indian armed forces had become "outdated" due to change in technology and on completion of their useful service life. "Upgrading and replacement of the radars is a continuous process. Aging equipment is being replaced in a gradual and systematic manner to ensure that requisite capabilities are maintained," he added.
$75 million
