NUMBER 6.AWACS

(I)PHALCON


In March 2004 India signed a $1.1 billion deal with Israel for the supply of three AWACS aircraft based on the IL-76MF airframe.The A-50EI systems being supplied to India are based on IL-76MF airframe built by Uzbekistan's Tashkent Aircraft Production Organization (TAPO). Russia's Beriev Taganrog Aviation Scientific and Engineering Complex (TANTK) is responsible for customizing the airframe, including fitting the radar radom. Israel's IAI is fitting the mission sensors and management suite...

Design and features

The EL/M-2075 is a solid-state L-band conformal array radar system for use on a Boeing 707 and other aircraft. Phalcon, as the complete AEW mission suite is referred to, is intended for airborne early warning, tactical surveillance of airborne and surface targets and intelligence gathering. It also integrates the command and control capabilities needed to employ this information. The system uses six panels of phased-array elements: two on each side of the fuselage, one in an enlarged nosecone and one under the tail. Each array consists of 768 liquid-cooled, solid-state transmitting and receiving elements, each of which is weighted in phase and amplitude. These elements are driven by individual modules and every eight modules are connected to a transmit/receive group. Groups of 16 of these eight module batches are linked back to what is described as a prereceive/transmit unit, and a central six-way control is used to switch the pre-transmit/receive units of the different arrays on a time division basis. As used in its Chilean Boeing 707-based application, the lateral fairings measured approximately 12 × 2 m and were mounted on floating beds to prevent airframe flexing degrading the radar accuracy. Each array scans a given azimuth sector, providing a total coverage of 360°. Scanning is carried out electronically in both azimuth and elevation. Radar modes include high PRF search and full track, track-while-scan, a slow scan detection mode for hovering and low-speed helicopters (using rotor blade returns) and a low PRF ship detection mode.

Instead of using a rotodome, a moving radar found on some AEW&C aircraft, the Phalcon uses the Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA), an active phased array radar. This radar consists of an array transmit/receive (T/R) modules that allow a beam to be electronically steered, making a physically rotating rotodome unnecessary. AESA radars operate on a pseudorandom set of frequencies and also have very short scanning rates, which makes them difficult to detect and jam. Up to 100 targets can be tracked simultaneously to a range of 200 nmi (370 km), while at the same time, over a dozen air-to-air interception or air-to-ground attack can be guided. The radar can be mounted on the an aircraft's fuselage or on the top inside a small dome. Either position gives the radar 360 degree coverage. 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 rotodome AWACS.

Additional Sensors
In August 2010, Flight Magazine reported that India had sought modification to the third IL-76 to be delivered by Russia to Israel's Elta system for fitting the Phalcon radar system. The modification will allow additional systems to be fitted. The additional systems were unidentified.

The need for the additional systems was felt by the IAF after operating the two systems already delivered to India.

Elta's parent company, IAI, had no comment on the request, but it is believed that the additional systems may include sensors that would improve the "threat picture" even under adverse conditions, Flight reported.

(II) EMB-145 AEW&CS project



The Airborne Early Warning and Control System (AEWACS) is a project being undertaken by India's Defence Research & Development Organization to develop an AWACS for the Indian Air Force
The DRDO AEWACS program aims to deliver three radar equipped surveillance aircraft to the Indian Air Force. The aircraft platform will be the Embraer ERJ 145. Three ERJ 145 are to be procured at a cost of US $ 300 Million, for the project. The aim is to deploy these AEW & C aircraft by 2013.Apart from providing the Indian Air Force with a cheaper and hence, more flexible AEW & C platform as a backup to its more capable Phalcon class systems, the local AEW & C project aims to develop the ability to locally design and operationalize airborne surveillance platforms.

Capabilities

The AEWACS aircraft will have a locally developed AESA primary radar with IFF. The system will also have ESM (Electronic Support Measures), CSM (Communications Support Measures) ability. Datalinks to network the AEWACS with fighters, and ground based control systems will also be provided, as will be a SATCOM (Satellite Communication System). The aircraft will also have a comprehensive self defence suite. The entire avionics suite will be linked via a datahandling system, controlled by Mission computers.

Key features

The DRDO has released an overview of the AEWACS aircraft. 
The Radar will have an extended range mode against fighter aircraft, and will consist of two back to back AESA arrays, with an additional dedicated IFF array.
The ESM system will be able to track sources with a directional accuracy of 2 deg. RMS and a frequency accuracy of 1 MHz.
The ESM system will have complete 360 degree coverage in azimuth and have a database of up to 3000 emitters against which threats will be scanned.
Communication Support Measure system will analyse and record intercepted communications both inflight and post flight.
Self Protection Suite will have a passive Missile Approach Warning System, a Radar Warning Receiver and countermeasures dispensers. The SPS will be integrated with the ESM & CSM suite.
The aircraft will have Inflight refuelling.
The aircraft will have SATCOM, and datalinks to pass on ESM, CSM and radar data to ground stations and datalinks to pass on target information to fighters. More than 40 other aircraft will be datalinked together by the AEW & C aircraft.

(III)ADVANCED HAWKEYE E-2D



The latest version of the E-2, the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye, is currently under development and the first two aircraft, "Delta One" and "Delta Two" are in flight testing. The E-2D features an entirely new avionics suite, including the new APY-9 radar, radio suite, mission computer, integrated satellite communications capability, flight management system, improved turboprop engines, a new "glass cockpit", and the added capability for air-to-air refueling. The APY-9 radar features an Active Electronically Scanned Array, which adds electronic scanning to the mechanical rotation of the radar in its radome. The E-2D will include provisions for either one of the pilots to act as a Tactical 4th Operator, who will have access to the full range of the mission's acquired data. 

Shore Based Version Sought
The E-2D has a limited endurance and is designed to operate from aircraft carriers using a steam catapult, something Indian carriers are not equipped with. Both, the currently operational but aging INS Viraat, and the on-order INS Vikramaditya are fitted with ski jumps, not steam catapults, to assist take offs. The E-2D cannot be based on either of the two carriers.

The Indian Navy has asked for a shore based version of the E-2D with enhanced endurance. Lockheed has signed a MOU with HAL to replace E-2D's folding wings, required for carrier operations, with wet non folding wings that can carry additional fuel, allowing the aircraft to stay airborne for up to 8 hours without refueling.

The E-2D is equipped with the newly developed AN/APY-9 radar which has a good surface surveillance capability.

India currently relies on the ageing Soviet era Tu-142M to monitor its 7,500 km. (4,660 mi.). The use of E-2D will increase Indian Navy's surveillance capability by 300%. The limited range of aircraft, and the fact that it cannot be based on a carrier does not pose a serious constraint to the Indian Navy, which is not a blue water navy like the US, but a regional force.