Indian Government News,
In a path-breaking development, India and Brazil have entered into a deal to jointly develop an Early Warning system for the Indian Air Force. The agreement was signed here today by Dr. S Christopher, Director, Centre for Airborne Systems (CABS), DRDO, and Mr. Luis Carlos Aguiar, Executive Vice President (Defence and Govt. Market), M/s Embraer in the presence of Mr. Marco Brandao, Brazilian Ambassador and Shri M Natarajan, Scientific Advisor to Defence Minister.
The Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) System is being developed by the Bangalore-based CABS for the Indian Air Force. Under the deal, Brazil's Embraer aircraft manufacturer will modify its regional jet aircraft, EMB-145 to carry the Active Array Antenna Unit (AAAU), developed by the DRDO, on the aircraft's fuselage.
Three modified EMB-145 aircraft will be developed under this agreement; the first one to be delivered in three years.
The various sub-systems of the AEW&C Mission system will be integrated into the 'modified green' aircraft by DRDO and the full-fledged EMB-145 based AEW&C will be flight tested for mission system in India by DRDO along with IAF from 2012.
The AEW&C system comprises many sub-systems like radar and communication links that are being designed and developed by DRDO.
A few EMB-145 based AEW&C/AWACS versions are already in operation with Air Forces of Brazil, Mexico and Greece.
