Efforts under way to secure Embraer ERJ-145s, E-2C Hawkeyes to augment fleet
India is to expand its national airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) capabilities through new air force and navy programmes detailed at Aero India 2005. New efforts to acquire modified Embraer ERJ-145 regional jets and Northrop Grumman E-2C Hawkeyes will augment New Delhi's planned fleet of modified Ilyushin Il-76 transports and current naval Kamov Ka-31 helicopters.
The Indian air force will from early next decade receive three ERJ-145s equipped with phased array radars to be supplied by India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) under a memorandum of understanding announced by Embraer. The manufacturer will conduct integration work and flight testing of the aircraft in Brazil using a "dummy" radar as part of the effort, which will support India's continued drive to indigenously develop leading-edge technologies for its armed forces.
Industry sources suggest the Indian ERJ-145s will be equipped with a radar system mounted in a similar style to Ericsson's Erieye system already installed on the type for Brazil, Greece and Mexico, but with concept work for the system only launched late last year. DRDO declines to provide further details. Preparation of the first aircraft will take around two years, says Embraer, with the entire demonstration effort likely to last until around 2011-12.
Embraer hopes the demonstration will lead to follow-on orders from the Indian air force and potential export buyers of the DRDO technology. The manufacturer also hopes to sell maritime patrol-configured ERJ-145s to the Indian navy.
The Indian navy is also planning to add a second AEW platform to supplement its fleet of Ka-31s. Northrop secured US government approval last November to sell India six new-build E-2C Hawkeye 2000s, but India has not yet committed because these would be the first Hawkeyes to be based on a carrier that is not equipped with a catapult.
Source: Flight International
