Defence Ministry RFP for 6 AEW&C for Indian Air Force: New Delhi, India – In a move to strengthen its air defense capabilities, the Indian Air Force (IAF) is seeking to acquire six Airborne Early Warning and Control Systems (AEW&C). The Ministry of Defense has issued a Request for Information (RFI) to domestic vendors and original equipment manufacturers to explore potential solutions.
AEW&C systems provide crucial long-range radar detection capabilities, enabling the IAF to monitor vast airspace. The IAF is looking for jet-engined aircraft with at least eight hours of endurance, air-to-air refueling capabilities, and a high operational altitude.
READ: ABHED Bulletproof Jacket: India’s DRDO, IIT Delhi Develop Lightweight Bulletproof Jackets
India MoD RFP for 6 AEW&C
The primary radar system should have a 360-degree coverage and be able to detect and track various aircraft types, including slow-moving unmanned aerial vehicles, at long ranges and altitudes. Other essential requirements include an identification friend-or-foe system, electronic warfare capabilities, data links, and a mission suite for seamless integration with the IAF’s command and control network.
Vendors can propose either a pre-existing AEW&C platform or modify a suitable aircraft to meet the IAF’s specifications. The IAF has a projected requirement for 12 AEW&C systems to effectively monitor its borders.
READ: India shipbuilder GRSE bags order for 4 more MPVs from German Company
IAF Awacs aircraft. India’s MoD has issued RFP for 6 more AEW&Cs.
READ: Fincantieri Demonstrates Unmanned Systems Capabilities at REPMUS 2024
Indian Air Force’s Netra AEW&C
Currently, the IAF operates a fleet of three aging Russian A-50 aircraft and two indigenously developed Netra aircraft. The Netra, developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), was successfully deployed in combat operations during the Balakote airstrikes in 2019.
DRDO is also working on a new, more advanced mission suite for the Netra. Additionally, the IAF recently acquired six Airbus A320 and one A319 passenger liners from Air India, which may be modified for intelligence gathering and electronic warfare missions, potentially serving as platforms for AEW&C systems.
READ: India’s Zen Technologies Bags Major Defence Maintenance Contract
The IAF’s current fleet of five AEW&C systems is relatively small compared to its neighboring countries. China possesses a larger fleet of AEW&C aircraft, including the Shaanxi KJ-500, KJ-200, and KJ-2000. Pakistan also operates several AEW&C systems, including the Chinese ZDK-03 Karakoram Eagle and Swedish Saab 2000 Erieye platforms.
The procurement of six new AEW&C systems is a significant step towards enhancing the IAF’s surveillance capabilities and ensuring the security of Indian airspace.
READ: India’s Tata Group to Supply 150 Wheeled Armoured Vehicles (WhAP) to Morocco
