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Indian MoD approves buy of 6 Airbus A330 for Indian AWACS

The Manohar Parrikar-led defence acquisitions council (DAC) approved the building of twoAWACS, which will involve mounting indigenous 360-degree coverage AESA (active electronically scanned array) radars on Airbus A-330 wide-body jets, at a cost of Rs 5,113 crore.

The eventual plan is to induct eight such aircraft under the "AWACS-India" project since both China and Pakistan are well ahead of India in this critical area in modern-day warfare, as was reported by TOI earlier.

"It will take at least 5-7 years to build the first two AWACS. Six more AWACS will be ordered when the project is mid-way," said a source. The decision, incidentally, comes ahead of PM Narendra Modi's visit to France and Germany, which primarily house the European Airbus consortium, in early-April.
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But the clear takeaway from the DAC was the AWACS project, where a single-vendor situation had emerged. "Airbus was the only aviation major ready for the design and development project. It will involve structural and electrical changes to the A-330 aircraft...the airframe will have to be cut to fit the radar dome on the top," said a source.

The "AWACS-India" project, with 80%:20% cost sharing between IAF and DRDO, is far more ambitious than the ongoing project to build three AEW&C (airborne early warning and control system) systems at a cost of Rs 2,275 crore. Under it, indigenous 240-degree coverage radars have been fitted on three smaller Brazilian Embraer-145 jets.

"The AEW&C project is running years behind schedule, with the completion date now pushed back to December 2015. But it will help in the larger AWACS project. Then, of course, the case for procurement of two more Israeli Phalcon AWACS after the induction of the three is now in the final stages," said the source.
 
The Manohar Parrikar-led defence acquisitions council (DAC) approved the building of twoAWACS, which will involve mounting indigenous 360-degree coverage AESA (active electronically scanned array) radars on Airbus A-330 wide-body jets, at a cost of Rs 5,113 crore.

The eventual plan is to induct eight such aircraft under the "AWACS-India" project since both China and Pakistan are well ahead of India in this critical area in modern-day warfare, as was reported by TOI earlier.

"It will take at least 5-7 years to build the first two AWACS. Six more AWACS will be ordered when the project is mid-way," said a source. The decision, incidentally, comes ahead of PM Narendra Modi's visit to France and Germany, which primarily house the European Airbus consortium, in early-April.
............
But the clear takeaway from the DAC was the AWACS project, where a single-vendor situation had emerged. "Airbus was the only aviation major ready for the design and development project. It will involve structural and electrical changes to the A-330 aircraft...the airframe will have to be cut to fit the radar dome on the top," said a source.

The "AWACS-India" project, with 80%:20% cost sharing between IAF and DRDO, is far more ambitious than the ongoing project to build three AEW&C (airborne early warning and control system) systems at a cost of Rs 2,275 crore. Under it, indigenous 240-degree coverage radars have been fitted on three smaller Brazilian Embraer-145 jets.

"The AEW&C project is running years behind schedule, with the completion date now pushed back to December 2015. But it will help in the larger AWACS project. Then, of course, the case for procurement of two more Israeli Phalcon AWACS after the induction of the three is now in the final stages," said the source.

Oops ........"AWACS-India" project with 80:20 cost sharing between IAF and DRDO :P ............. looks like IAF is paying 80% of the cost. So much for IAF not wanting this :lol:
 
IF, but that's not the standard, just as it's not standard in IAF to train the pilots for all types in the fleet. That's why it's simply pointless that you try to distract to AI or MRO, when the simple fact is, that the standard training or operational equipment is limited. So if you want me to quote more of your post, try to focus on the topic at hand, which is the AWACS fleet of IAF and the operational outcomes of having 3 different types of aircrafts and 3 different radar systems in the same role!




Just as you said, all of the 2 wings, but these A330 AWACS won't be used from the same airbase as the A50 Phalcons, just as the EMB 145Is are meant to be based at other air bases and the air bases won't be equipped to operate all 3 types of AWACS. That's even the point that IAF is making for years, that the logistical burden have to be reduced, by reducing the numbers of tyes in the fleet, especially in the same roles, that's why 3 different AWACS will be counter productive just as 2 different basic trainers are.


Well, you do share one thing with "St.Anthony of the...............Dhoti" ........TEFLON........copious amounts of it ....applied liberally. :lol:

After that; if you can just read the Fallacy contained in your post in the underlined part.
If as you claim.......the IAF thinks that way..... then....
Why do the IAF have so many kinds of Fighters in their Fleet, including the Jaguars which you particularly loathe?
Why do they want "Three Tiers" of Trainers?
Why do they want the Airbus MRTT, when they have the IL-78 Midas already?
Why are they looking to replace the Avros?
Does the IAF not want the A-330s for future AEWACs Platforms?
Why do they operate the C-17 apart from the IL-76?


And just to set you right..... even the IAF has numerous Pilots who have Multiple Type Ratings.... just as AI does.
Did you go back to read "TKS' Tales"? You really should, you can gain some enlightenment on that score!

Just as to again remind you that IAF's BRDs and their staff can and do handle multiple types of Aircraft. Assignment of Aircraft to particular AirBases/Stations are not cast in stone. have'nt you been reading about periodic detachments/re-deployments to various bases?

You have been unable to give any cogent and reasonable rebuttal to the facts that I have put forth. Nor answered any of the specific questions that I tossed at you to bench-mark where your opinions should stand.

Just more and more TEFLON on display.....sadly; when one is unable to climb out of self-created knots.
 
order for 3 are already placed while 5 more will come later( of which one will be remain with DRDO for further testing).

for that we have to place orders with Embraer, WHICH has not happened till now..!o_O
 
surprise every body waiting for A330 as Tanker but they approve AWACS
I guess that must have been the basic consideration why A 330 is chosen despite this being Turned to a Single Tender situation. Look slike one deal is about to be signed during next visit to France by our PM.
But what radar package will be on-board these new AWACS is the question. I'm making a wild guess but perhaps India might have reached an agreement with Israel for the same and that could actually be a joint development with DRDO as the Indian party.
 
Fleet "versatility" is here to stay. It is near impossible to afford but our security needs leave us with little option. The GOI and the MoD in particular could have simply insisted that the A-50 be used as a platform; the detractors should take into consideration that the IAF itself will have looked at the minutiae (type certification of their pilots, MRO and spares) of their plan.

We either pay a price now and move towards greater indigenization in strategic technologies or we reconcile ourselves with being net importers of our security.
 
Do we have any plan for indigenous JSTARS type aircraft, I think it will be force multiplayer for our strike group.
 
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