The Hindu Business Line : Embraer, SAAB shortlisted for IAF's early warning system

AIRCRAFT manufacturing giants Embraer of Brazil and SAAB of Sweden are among the companies shortlisted for the purchase of an aircraft to integrate the indigenous airborne early warning and control system (AWACS) being developed by Indian Defence scientists.

The Rs 1,800-crore AWACS project was taken up by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) towards the end of 2004, following the requirement from the Indian Air Force for a smaller aircraft-based system.

"We expect to finalise and acquire the necessary aircraft by 2007. Bombardier and Gulf Stream are among other big aircraft manufacturers being looked into for the purpose," according to Dr Dipankar Banerjee, Chief Controller (R&D), DRDO.

Currently, the IAF purchases early warning system from an Israeli-Russian consortium. While most of the funds out of the Rs 1,800-crore project would go towards buying the aircraft, the DRDO will develop the radar, communication and other critical components to be placed on board by 2008, he said.

Even, in these developments, the DRDO is planning to work with select foreign companies. "We are in the process of identifying them. The idea of roping in foreign partners is to accelerate the entire development work," he told newspersons.

The integration of the systems into the aircraft is expected to be completed by 2009. Thereafter, trials would be undertaken. The Centre for Airborne Systems, Bangalore, is co-ordinating the project, said Dr Banerjee, who is in-charge of aeronautics and materials in the DRDO.

Referring to Tejas, the light combat aircraft, Dr Banerjee said it has now entered the initial operational clearance phase, which demands integration of the weapon into the aircraft and launching to the target.

In addition, it requires development of multimode radar and sensors, now being done by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd and LRDE (Electronics and Radar Development Establishment).

The IAF has already placed an order for 40 aircraft. A major part of the funding for the project is going towards setting up of production facilities at HAL.

Referring to the big challenge of fitting the LCA with the indigenous Kaveri engine, Mr Banerjee said a thorough evaluation of the development so far has shown that by early 2007, it would be possible to fit and fly the aircraft with the Kaveri engine.

"By 2010, we expect to have a fully performing Kaveri engine meeting the demand of the LCA", he added.

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