"E-801M Oko (Eye) airborne electronic warfare radar that can track up to 20 targets simultaneously...
...certain sources even suggest 30-40 targets , unless you can give me a comparative figure with other AEW systems
.
The radar of the ASaC7 can detect low flying aircraft and can track simultaneously 400 targets providing interception/attack control and over- the- horizon targeting for surface launched weapon system
http://s14.directupload.net/images/140621/tgmlmg5t.png
Thats a brand new carrier we are building it is obviously going to be a lot better but its simply stupid to call the carrier "hardly operationally capable "
It's neither a brand new carrier, nor does the carrier alone tell you something about it's operational capability, because the airwing is the crucial part of it's performance. As I said, it offers higher operational capability than the INS Viraat and the earlier Sea Harriers, which might be enough to carry out Sea Control roles against neighboring countries, BUT compared to other propper aircraft carriers, if clearly falls short!
- Russian, Chinese, French, (coming) British and all US carriers can carry more than 30 x aircrafts
- will have propper medium class, if not heavy class fighters, with better performance and eveb 4.5th and 5th gen capabilities
- the Ka 31 is one of the least capable available carrier based AEW and the base performance of the platform is lower compared to other AEW helicopters like the Sea King or Merlin helicopters too. The Chinese also have the Z8 helicopter with an AEW radar based on a radar developed for the Eurocopter Cougar. Not sure how capable that is, but it is said to be an AESA radar.
- if we can't refuel the Ka 31 in air, it's operation time is very limited, which means you have to counter that with more helicopters, to offer propper 24/7 surveillance
Even if you don't compare it with others but looked at what they could had chosen if they aimed on an at least propper capable you see clear differences!
Current airwing:
4th gen Mig 29Ks and most likely 4.5th N-LCA
Ka 31 AEW
Ka 28 / Sea King ASW
Airwing that could had been procured:
4th gen Mig 29Ks and 4.5th gen Rafale M F3+
Sea King or Merlin AEW (the latter with IFR) with Thales radar or even a V22 AEW
S70 / NH90 ASW
That would had made a clear operational difference, since IN would had been able to provide it's carriers with propper long range early warning capability, with more range and endurance as well as a more capable radar system, but also a mix of far more capable fighters, with propper offensive strike and air defence capabilities to target even enemy carriers or shore based assets.
NO, but i was objecting to you calling the carrier "a waste of money" . Its an insult to those people serving aboard the ship ..
No it's not, since they didn't decided to stick to a procurement that ran out of control in financial terms, nor to limit it's operational capabilities to very basic levels. And a 2nd hand foreign carrier, that costs as much as a new indigenous one, with more restrictions on airwing, maintenance and spares than Vikrant is a waste of money as sad as it is. Denying this reality doesn't get us anything, we only can try to make the best out of it and try to move around the possible future problems for the carrier and the aircrafts, if they remain dependent on Russian upgrades (more integration of Indian techs and spares, to reduce dependance on Russia).