India to go ahead with 2 more Phalcon awacs aircrafts

 

So IAF is finally going ahead with an order for 2 A50/Phalcon awacs aircraft to supplement the 3 already in service.

The price tag of 1.1 billion dollars seems excessive and yes has been a reason for delay in procurement but it has been a long felt requirement as the current fleet of AWACS ( 3 A50 + 2 NETRA + 1 NETRA ( NOW WITH IAF) ).

While Indian NETRA awacs has a limited 240° coverage the A50 has a 360° FOV and its radars are better when it comes to longer range detection and precise detection of even LO or low observable aircrafts.

While the price tag seems excessive at 1.1 billion dollars, remember we paid nearly 900 million dollars for 6 apache helicopters and these are surely more useful force multipliers. The cost of these have risen multifold since first deal as Russian increased the price of the platform IL-76 to nearly double and the Phalcon radar cost has also increased. Although these new phalcon will be upgraded and will have more modern equipment and avionics compared to older ones and will be a force multiplier for iaf.

This being said we could and should also seek more netra awacs based on either c295 or original EMB platform.

Also there is a need to fast track a330 acquisition for development of drdo 360° awacs who's subsystems have performed well in tests and trials. The development can be dont in less than a decade. We should realise that buying Phalcons at cost of 550 million per aircraft is not the suitable way and hence we must fast track our own projects.

-HITESH ADHIKARI