Scoop !! First note Indian Air Force Airbus A321
On 1 November 2023, Bharatiya Vayu Sena (BVS, Indian Air Force) Airbus A321-211 CA7081 was photographed taking off from Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport (Guwahati, state of Assam).
The aircraft, former Air India VT-PPA (c/n 3130), still sports Air India colours, but with Indian Air Force titles and serial. Air India sold six Airbus A321s and one Airbus A319 to the Indian Ministry of Defence in 2021. The aircraft were parked at Hindon AFS (state of Uttar Pradesh) since early 2022.
The single Airbus A319, still registered VT-SCO, has been painted in an overall grey colourscheme and has freqently been noted making training flights.
The IAF will develop six Airborne Early Warning & Control System (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 procurement and development of the AEW&C Mk.II was accorded by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) on 8 September 2021. Scramble Magazine first reported on acquiring the Airbus A320/321s in December 2020.
Next step is that 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.
Credit photo: Borispole (Scramble Archive)