DRDO AEW&CS

The Airborne Early Warning and Control System (AEWACS) is a project of India's Defence Research & Development Organization to develop an AWACS system for the Indian Air Force.

Contents

Program details

In 2003, the Indian Air Force (IAF) and Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) carried out a joint study of the system-level requirements and feasibility of development for an Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEWAC) system.[1] The government then approved the project for the development of the AEWAC system by DRDO.

Primary responsibility for the project was with DRDO's Bangalore-based Centre for Airborne Systems (CABS), which led the design, system integration and testing of the system. LRDE was responsible for the design of the radar array. Defence Electronics Application Laboratory, based in Dehradun, was responsible for the Data Link and Communication Systems for AEW&CS.

The DRDO AEWACS program aims to deliver three radar-equipped surveillance aircraft to the Indian Air Force. The aircraft platform selected was the Embraer ERJ 145. Three ERJ 145 were procured from Embraer at a cost of US $ 300 Million, including the contracted modifications to the airframe. The project goal was to deploy these AEW&C aircraft by 2013.[2]

India's sole previous effort to develop an AEWAC system was the Airborne Surveillance Platform, but the program, codenamed Airavat, was ended after the only testbed crashed.

The AEW&C project aimed to supplement the larger and more capable Phalcon AWACS acquired by the IAF from Israel. Three Phalcon sytems have been ordered, with follow-on orders of 3 more expected in 2010.[3]

Apart from providing the IAF with a cheaper and hence, more flexible AEW&C platform as a backup to its more capable Phalcon class systems, the DRDO AEW&C project aimed to develop the domestic ability to design and operationalize airborne surveillance platforms.

In June 2010, it was reported that the Indian Air Force is said to be looking at acquiring up to 20 additional systems, in addition to the existing systems on order.[4][5]

Status

The first round of modifications to the first EMB-145 fuselage for India’s early warning aircraft were made in March 2011 in preparation for integration with the Indian-designed antenna.

In June 2010, it was reported that the Active Array Antenna Unit (AAAU), developed by DRDO’s Center for Airborne Systems (CABS), was to be integrated into the modified EMB-145 aircraft. First test flight of the system was expected in early 2011.[4][6][7][8][9]

The first modified fuselage platform was handed over to DRDO by Embraer in February 2011. Ground and flight tests of the aircraft were to be followed by installation of radar and other equipment.[10]

The integrated system with the antenna and its electronic payload had its maiden test flight on December 6, 2011 at Embraer's São José dos Campos facility in Brazil. This flight had close to 1000 systems on board. Some of the sensitive advanced systems were replaced with dummy equipment of equivalent size and weight. These were to be integrated later in India following flight certification. A two year certification period is expected. DRDO is expected to receive the next two aircraft platforms to start integration by mid-2012.[11]

Capabilities

The AEWACS aircraft will have a locally developed AESA primary radar with IFF. The system will also have ESM (Electronic Support Measures) and CSM (Communications Support Measures) ability. Datalinks to network the AEWACS with fighters, and ground based control systems will also be provided, as will be the SATCOM (Satellite Communication System). The aircraft will also have a comprehensive self defence suite. The avionics suite will be linked via a datahandling system, controlled by Mission computers.

DRDO's public overview of the AEWACS aircraft stated:[12]

Partners

The responsibility between various DRDO laboratories is split as follows:

  1. LRDE and DEAL - Primary radar, and IFF
  2. DEAL - Communication Systems and Data Link
  3. DARE - Self Protection suite, EW & CSM
  4. DLRL - Self Protection suite (counter measures)
  5. CABS - Overall Program Management, Integration & development of the data handling system, displays, mission computers et al.

Various Indian private sector firms are involved in the program.

National Aerospace Laboratories contributed to the aerodynamic studies of the antenna array, and flight modelling of the entire AEWACS platform.

References

  1. ^ "Development of Airborne Early Warning and Control System" (Press release). Press Information Bureau, GoI. 11 December 2003. http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=123. Retrieved 2008-07-25. 
  2. ^ Detailed 2008 Article on the AEWACS Project
  3. ^ More Phalcons to be ordered
  4. ^ a b http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_generic.jsp?topicName=india&id=news/awx/2010/06/01/awx_06_01_2010_p0-230912.xml
  5. ^ http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_generic.jsp?topicName=india&id=news/awx/2010/09/14/awx_09_14_2010_p0-254452.xml
  6. ^ India defence (12 September 2010). "AWACS Developed by DRDO to Roll Out in January 2011; Flight Tests in 2011". india defence. http://www.india-defence.com/reports-4515. Retrieved 12 September 2010. 
  7. ^ http://sify.com/finance/embraer-aircraft-with-indian-warning-system-to-fly-by-2011-news-default-kjmpObeaejj.html
  8. ^ http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_india-developing-unmanned-combat-air-vehicle_1436844
  9. ^ http://www.brahmand.com/news/India-to-roll-out-indigenous-AEW-aircraft-by-2012/6018/1/10.html
  10. ^ Embraer unveils the new EM 145 AEW&C platform developed for the Indian government
  11. ^ http://livefist.blogspot.com/2011/12/first-photo-indias-aew-platform-makes.html
  12. ^ DRDO Article on the AEW & C
  13. ^ ACIG Article on the AEWACS