THE FUTURE OF INDIA'S long-running airborne-early-warning (AEW) aircraft programme has been thrown into doubt, with the defence ministry looking at off-the-shelf alternatives.
India has test flown an aerodynamic AEW test-bed, mounting a German-produced rotodome shell on a Hawker Siddeley HS.748, but the successful development and integration of a 360¡ search-and-track radar has proved difficult.
Contenders to replace the procurement of an indigenous AEW programme, include a variant of the Lockheed C-130 Hercules, the Fokker Kingbird, a derivative of the Fokker 50 carrying an Ericcson Erieye active phased-array S-band radar, the Northrop Grumman E-2C Hawkeye and the Saab 340 also carrying the Ericcson radar, along with Israel's Phalcon system, now based on the Boeing 707.
Sources claim that India now appears to be increasingly serious about fulfilling its AEW requirement, even if it has to procure the capability from a third party.
While it has previously been suggested that India's Defence Research Science Organisation has been developing an indigenous AEW radar system, some sources claim this is based on elements of the AEW suite developed for Russia's Beriev A-50 Mainstay.
India had looked at platforms to mount its AEW system, including the Airbus A320. The latest, say some sources, is the Antonov An-26 Curl.
The Indian requirement is for a long-range AEW platform and sensor suite capable of being deployed over land and sea. In the latter case, the deployment would be in support of its carriers and of British Aerospace Sea Harrier FRS51s.
The requirement also calls for a Western and Russian identification-friend-or-foe interrogation capability, coupled with a passive-detection suite. UHF/VHF communications and a satellite communications capability are also included.
Source: Flight International
