New Delhi: China-Pakistan have been trying to create tension for a long time in Ladakh and Jammu & Kashmir. While the Indo-Chinese forces are in a face-to-face situation in Ladakh, in Jammu and Kashmir, the terrorists sitting in Pakistan continue to engage in infiltration. Meanwhile, India has decided to further enhance its capabilities. The Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) is building six new airborne early warning and control planes. With the help of these six ‘eyes’, any nefarious act of countries like Pakistan and China could be detected beforehand. This will allow the activities of other countries to be monitored from the sky. The indigenous defense industry will also get a boost by this project.
Government sources said that as per the discussions on the AEW&C Block 2 aircraft to be developed by the DRDO under a Rs 10,500 crore project, the six aircraft would be acquired from the Air India fleet and modified to fly with a radar that will give 360-degree surveillance capability to the defence forces.”The six AEW&C block two planes would be highly capable than their predecessor NETRA plane and provide 360-degree coverage deep inside the enemy territory during missions. The government is expected to clear the project soon,” government sources said.
At the same time, sources also said that since this project will be built with the help of the already existing Air India aircraft, India will defer plans to buy six Airbus 330 transport aircraft from the European firm, the sources said.
The Defence Research and Development Organisation had earlier planned to build six Airborne Warning and Control System on the Airbus 330 aircraft for which some facilities were planned to be created in Bengaluru.
Project under self-reliant India campaign
The Modi government is continuously working to promote the campaign of self-reliant India. Sources said that this DRDO project has been planned in a way to promote Make in India in defense and Aatmanirbhar Bharat (Self-reliant India). While Block-I of the project was delayed, after its prior experience, the Airborne Studies Lab Center of DRDO plans to complete it in a shorter timeframe.
Know where these aircraft would be stationed
The Indian Air Force has three PHALCON AWACS systems purchased from Israel and Russia under which the radar is provided by the Israelis whereas the platform used is the Russian Ilyushin-76 transport aircraft.
Sources said that these six new planes would be stationed at different places in the countries for effective surveillance long both the borders.