IANS,
The Indian Navy's surveillance capability has received a major boost with the return from Russia of one of its Il-38 long-range patrol aircraft after extensive modernisation and refurbishment.
The aircraft has been fitted with new state-of-the-art sensors and weapons package, including the Sea Dragon patrol suite that can track over 30 targets at a time from a distance of up to 320 km, said a navy official.
The plane arrived at the naval air station INS Hansa at Dabolim in Goa Jan 15. It was the first of three Il-38s of the Indian Navy to be upgraded by Russia under a contract signed in September 2002.
The cost to upgrade each aircraft is about $35 million.
“The upgraded aircraft with its Sea Dragon Mission Suite can independently search and track aerial, surface and subsurface targets. It can also destroy surface and subsurface targets like submarines,” said a navy spokesman.
The Sea Dragon package comprises a multifunctional radar, electronic surveillance system, anti-submarine system, infra red and TV system, and an anti-ship system that is capable of launching bombs, torpedoes and air-to-surface missiles.
“The combined features and functions of this suite surpasses the capability possessed by any maritime reconnaissance platform in the Indian Navy,” the spokesman said.
The navy also has plans to mount the BrahMos cruise missile on the Il-38 in the future, officials said.
The Indian Navy bought five Il-38s from the erstwhile Soviet Union between 1977 and 1983. Two of the aircraft, which can stay airborne for up to 10-12 hours, were lost in an accident in 2002.
The modernisation is expected to keep the three remaining aircraft operational for another 15 years. There have also been reports that Russia will donate two Il-38s from its stocks to India to replace the planes lost in 2002.
