Additional AEW&C capacity for Indian Air Force

On 3 October 2023, Air Chief Marshal (ACM) VR Chaudhari, Chief of the Air Staff, Bharatiya Vayu Sena (IAF, Indian Air Force), announced that acquiring additional Airborne Early Warning & Control System (AEW&C) capacity is on the roadmap.

Currently, the IAF operates three Ilyushin A-50EHi Phalcon Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft and three Embraer ERJ145SM early warning aircraft. These are operated by 50 Squadron Adwitiya at Agra AFS (state of Uttar Pradesh) respectively 200 Squadron The Netra at Bhatinda/Bhisiana AFS (state of Punjab).

According to ACM Chaudhari, a case for the procurement of six more Embraer ERJ145SM early warning aircraft is under process.

Next to the above aircraft, the IAF will develop six AEW&C aircraft, dubbed as AEW&C Mk.II, using the Airbus A321. India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) will be the prime contractor, but will share all costs with the air force. The six A321s are all former Air India airliners and were noted parked at Hindon AFS since early 2022. The procurement and development of the AEW&C Mk.II was accorded by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) on 8 September 2021.

The A321s will be sent to France, where they will be refurbished and modified to Indian Air Force/DRDO specifications including the fitment of airborne radars. After returning to India, DRDO will integrate the radar with the complex software that will allow these aircraft to function as “eye-in-the-sky” controllers. It is unknown when the first A321 AEW&C Mk.II will enter service.

Credit photo: Patrick van Stiphout (Scramble Archive)