First Russian AWACS plane put in service with Indian air force

RIA Novosti ^ | 28/05/2009

[pobeda1945]

NEW DELHI, May 28 (RIA Novosti) - The first Russian-made A-50 Mainstay AWACS aircraft developed on the basis of Il-76MD military transport plane officially entered service on Thursday with the Indian Air Force (IAF).

India ordered three A-50EI variants fitted with Israeli-made Phalcon radar systems in 2001. The first aircraft was scheduled to arrive in 2007-08 but has been subject to delays.

"Today we became one of the few chosen countries to possess this kind of plane [AWACS]," IAF commander, Air Chief Marshal Fali Homi Major said at the commissioning ceremony.

According to some sources, the second of the A-50EI planes is expected to be in India by early 2010, with the third by the end of next year. The aircraft will be deployed in Agra with the IAF's 50 Squadron under the Allahabad-based Central Air Command but will be assigned tasks directly by Air Headquarters.

In many aspects, the A-50 is comparable to the U.S. Air Force's E-3 Sentry. It is fitted with an aerial refueling system and electronic warfare equipment, and can detect targets up to 400 km (250 miles) away. The existing Russian-Indian military-technical cooperation program until 2010 includes up to 200 projects worth about $18 billion.

However, bilateral military-technical ties have been overshadowed by recent spats over problems with delivery delays, supplies of spare parts, poor sales support, steep maintenance costs and technology transfer issues. For instance, India dropped Russia from a $1-bln tender to supply six aerial tankers for the Indian Air Force due to poor after-sales maintenance services and is most likely to look for another manufacturer for future AWACS orders to satisfy its needs for early warning aircraft. India has recently purchased eight Boeing P-81 long-range maritime reconnaissance (LRMR) aircraft from the United States, and signed a deal with Brazil to jointly integrate domestically developed AWACS systems into three Brazilian-made Embraer-145 aircraft to be later commissioned with the Indian Air Force.

[MyTwoCopperCoins]

Russia Cut Out Of Indian AWACS Plans

http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htecm/articles/20090527.aspx

May 27, 2009: After more than a year of delays by Russia (which was supplying the modified Il-76 aircraft), India has received its first Phalcon AWACS aircraft. The Il-76s had to have part of the airframe reinforced (to accommodate the Israeli Phalcon radar) and install more powerful engines. This system is basically an Israeli radar mounted in a Russian Il-76 transport. AWACS have proved to be a crucial element in winning air superiority, and more efficient use of air power.
India ordered three of the IL-76 AWACS, for $367 million each (radar, aircraft and other electronics) in 2004. Now India is looking for three more Phalcon AWACS, to provide better warning of nuclear missile attack from Pakistan, or China. India is open to offers from other aircraft manufacturers, as it was not happy with Russia and the Il-76. Israel uses Boeing 707s, which are no longer manufactured. But Israel will install Phalcon in a Boeing 767, or an AirBus aircraft, both of which the U.S. Air Force considered for its new aerial tanker. Russia has irked India several times with late deliveries of military equipment, as well as warranty and pricing disputes. The IL-76 delay apparently had long term negative effects on trade relations.

Phalcon uses a phased array radar (thousands of small radar transmitters are fitted underneath the aircraft). The phased array radar, in combination with the latest, most powerful computers, and other antennas for picking up a variety of signals, enables Phalcon to be more aware of what electronic equipment (airborne or on the ground) is operating up to 400 kilometers away. The phased array radar allows positions of aircraft on operator screens to be updated every 2-4 seconds, rather than every 20-40 seconds as is the case on the United States AWACS (which uses a rotating radar in a radome atop the aircraft.) The major advantage of the Phalcon is that it is a more modern design. The latest improvements enable it to spot distant ballistic missiles rising up into the air, or cruise missiles coming in low and slow. The Phalcon Il-76 AWACS can stay in the air for about 14 hours per sortie, so three would not be able to provide anything like 24/7 coverage (given the need for maintenance). Eight Phalcons could provide constant coverage, during a crises situation.

[gridlock]

A-50EI AWACS-ki

[sukhoi-30mki]

Umm, these aircraft carry Israeli radars so can’t be called Russian AWACS!!

[shredderman]

Not a bad looking aircraft, but how long can it stay on station and drag fighters w/it to stave off fighter attacks? And inquiring minds must know, how much US technology is in that “Israeli” airborne radar system?

Once again, the US takes it in the shorts! BOHICA!

[MyTwoCopperCoins]

14 hrs, as per the Strategy Page article I’ve posted just above the photograph.

[MyTwoCopperCoins]

The aircraft is just a platform. Even a Boeing passenger plane could be modified to support it.

The radar is the main thing.

[InterceptPoint]

The radar is the main thing.

Probably so but don't forget that to be effective this aircraft needs an absolutely jam-proof, spoof-proof and intercept-proof communication system both air to ground and air to air. In addition it needs a ground-based command and control system to coordinate the activities on the battlefield including targeting and threat assessment. It's more than just an aircraft, it's a system.

[MyTwoCopperCoins]

Yes, those things would be handled by the radar and the associated electronic countermeasures, almost all of which were integrated into the plane, in Israel.

The pilots would have basic control over the aircraft. It is not fly-by-wire.

[shredderman]

I agree w/you on that point. How can our “Allies” give out advanced electronic hardware and the associated software for the computing systems to a place like that? We’re just asking for trouble. Of course, if we (US Armed Forces)have all the particulars of that system, we can spoof it or better yet, make it un-usable in a wartime environment.

[Thunder90]

India should dump Russia completely and go strictly with NATO equipment.