Russia might offer A-100 AWACS to India

[sancho]

MTA will take more time to get ready, and modifications for AWACS May take extra couple of years.

Range is around 2500 Kms , which is only half of similar aircrafts available commercially.

MTA is largely based on the IL476 development, be it on airframe or cargo hold, just as engines. That will make the development far easier, but then again AWACS India is nothing more than a DRDO concept today as well, since IAF doesn't want it now. They have 2 x A50s on order and probably want more DRDO AWACS based on the Embraer platform to increase the numbers in the fleet.
Range is the only issue, but that will be dependent on IAF's requirements and so far we see that they put higher importance to mid air refuelling capability, although MTA should offer higher range than the Embraer platform anyway.

 

[kaku1]

More than the price, the hope on DRDO delivering the indigenous AWACS might be the key reason, not to mention that DRDO surely lobbied against additional Phalcons, to focus attention to their developments, we have seen similar tactics in several projects.
And I highly doubt DRDO's plans are that much cheaper, since they aim on large platforms too with A330 class aircrafts, while you could go for Boeing 737 or Airbus A320 class aircrafts at lower costs too. I still see the MTA as a logical choice for AWACS India, since it should meet the performance requirements of IAF, is larger than the EMB 145 platform and should easily carry a rotodome, but most of all would be an indigenous platform, that can be produced and modified according to our needs. Why procure a foreign platform and ask the vendors for costly modifications, when you have an own choice?



range, ceiling, speed, internal capacity, space for a suitable radar..., all reasons why it's a no go. It was a choice as a naval MPA with some sensors, but that might be of the list now with additional Do 228 MPAs on order.

It's pure speculation at this point to put forward the MTA for the AWACS (India). If the DRDO have specifically mentioned the A330 then the MTA is going to be far too small for them.

And sir, the trend the world over is to use converted civilian airliners for AWACS (for e.g. 767, 737, EMB-145, SAAB 2000, fole (A-50, C-295, maybe A400 at some point). Additionally it was suggested the IAF was more inclined towards a civilian airliner for this role. Converted civilian airliners offer advantages in terms of range and crew comfort.

Now long (LONG) term, the ideal solution is to use an Indian civilian airliner for all Indian AWACS projects. But I don't think we should assume the MTA is up to the task.

I am still not able to grasp,, why MTA is not preferred choice?

Its a two engine turbofan plane, its not going to give any problem.

Again why go for Emberer or Boeing or Airbus to do a job, and why not to HAL? The MTA going to be remain at disposal to IAF.

And further it would be more cost effective, spare part effective and logistic effective for having AWACS on MTA.

 

[sancho]

I am still not able to grasp,, why MTA is not preferred choice?

Its a two engine turbofan plane, its not going to give any problem.

Don't ask me, ask DRDO mate. For me it's the logical and rational choice for the next step of DRDO AWACS developments. Developing a 360° dome for MTA, that seesm to fulfill IAF flight performance requirements and has the advantage of common cargohold with the A50 that IAF already have in service, makes it rather an easy plug and play choice. Even with exports in mind and India as the cost-effective choice, DRDO should aim on the medium class of aircrafts, that smaller countries can procure too and not the high end that are unaffordable.

But as I said, as long as the pride factor remains to be more important for DRDO, than rational thinking, they will keep making the wrong decisions!

 

[IND151]

It will look like this

Don't ask me, ask DRDO mate. For me it's the logical and rational choice for the next step of DRDO AWACS developments. Developing a 360° dome for MTA, that seesm to fulfill IAF flight performance requirements and has the advantage of common cargohold with the A50 that IAF already have in service, makes it rather an easy plug and play choice. Even with exports in mind and India as the cost-effective choice, DRDO should aim on the medium class of aircrafts, that smaller countries can procure too and not the high end that are unaffordable.

But as I said, as long as the pride factor remains to be more important for DRDO, than rational thinking, they will keep making the wrong decisions!

May be India wants something of the size of IL-78.

 

[Viper0011.]

Russia might offer next-generation advance A-100 Airborne ... such offer to India or whether the offer will be of Complete A-100 AWACS aircraft

Does India even care to get it? You are building your internal AWACS with US and Israeli support, which are far advanced in technology......why go for previous generation Russian AWACS? I thought Israel and the US had TOT type serious design and capability input into DRDO AWACS program...?

 

[sancho]

May be India wants something of the size of IL-78.

Depends on which India you are talking, DRDO or IAF? Also, the MTA has the same size of the larger IL in diameter of the cargo hold, because MTA uses the same IL76 cargo hold, just with smaller length. So you basically can take the same module to fix a radome above the canopy and the same internal layout too. All DRDO needs to do is, to develop take the radar array they already have developed and implement it into a radome for 360° FoV. That radome might not be as big as the A50s or of an E-3, but puts the MTA DRDO AWACS in the same class of Boeings 737 Wedgetail!

High end - A50 / A100, KJ2000, E-3
Medium - 737 Wedgetail, G550 Phalcon (, MTA DRDO AWACS)
Lo end - E-2D, Saab 2000 / EMB145 Erieye, C295 Phalcon, EMB145 DRDO AWACS

 

[Echo_419]

Does India even care to get it? You are building your internal AWACS with US and Israeli support, which are far advanced in technology......why go for previous generation Russian AWACS? I thought Israel and the US had TOT type serious design and capability input into DRDO AWACS program...?

You are right we for the Heavy end we will go for Israeli one & for the Medium & small category we will go for homegrown solutions

 

[sancho]

May be India wants something of the size of IL-78.

In addition to what I wrote earlier, here what the IAF side of India wants:

September 24, 2012 - 15 surveillance aircraft to strengthen air defence

The Air Force aims to beef up air defence this decade with a mix of at least 15 large and small surveillance aircraft — or air-borne warning systems — Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Normal Anil Kumar Browne said here on Thursday...

...The present AWACS has an Israeli Phalcon radar system mounted on the Russian Ilyushin (IL-76) aircraft. The overall plan was to supplement them with ten smaller versions, or AEW&CS, in the next seven years, he said. ...

The Air Chief was speaking after an event to mark the arrival of the first of three modified Brazilian Embraer EMB 145 aircraft that will be fitted with the AEW&CS developed by the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO)...

15 surveillance aircraft to strengthen air defence - The Hindu

 

[IND151]

In addition to what I wrote earlier, here what the IAF side of India wants:



15 surveillance aircraft to strengthen air defence - The Hindu

Thanks for info

 

[gslv mk3]

You are building your internal AWACS with US and Israeli support, which are far advanced in technology..

Nopes..