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Airborne early warning system inducted into IAF

Last Updated 14 February 2017, 21:13 IST

India’s first indigenously built Airborne Early Warning and Control System (AEW&C), was inducted into the Indian Air Force (IAF) on Tuesday by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar at Aero India.

Parrikar handed over the keys to the Brazilian Embraer-145 jet (Netra) on which the AEW&C is mounted, to Indian Air Force Chief, Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa at the Yelahanka Air Force Station. Netra, with the AEW&C, was displayed as part of the flypast in the inaugural session.

It is developed by DRDO and will be used to detect enemy aircraft and missiles.

Parrikar said after handing over the plane to IAF, “This is a technology demonstrator and it is not the ultimate. We want to further develop a higher capacity radar with 360-degree coverage.” At present, the AEW&C has a 240-degree coverage. He said India would increase the number of planes equipped with AEW&C.

M S Easwaran, director at DRDO's Centre for Air Borne Systems (CABS) which developed AEW&C, was present at the induction with his team.

DRDO has spent Rs 2,400 crore on the programme. Extensive modifications were done on the Embraer EMB145 to equip it with the system.

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(Published 14 February 2017, 21:13 IST)

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