Latest news with #AirborneEarlyWarningandControl
News18
2 days ago
- Business
- News18
IAF To Enhance Capabilities With Acquisition Of 6 More Netra Mk-1A AEW&C Systems: Sources
Last Updated: The AEW&C system is crucial for monitoring enemy territory from a distance, providing an early warning of incoming aerial threats. The Ministry of Defence is set to consider a proposal for acquiring six Netra Mark-1A Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) systems for the Indian Air Force this month, sources have informed. The proposal will be presented to the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. The development will see airframes sourced from Brazilian aerospace giant Embraer, with modifications carried out by the Centre for Airborne Systems (CABS) under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). AWACS, an Airborne Warning and Control System, serves as a long-range radar surveillance and command and control platform mounted on an aircraft. The acquisition aims to triple the IAF's AEW&C fleet, addressing critical gaps in India's air defense architecture amid rising regional tensions with China and Pakistan. India currently operates Israeli EL/M-2090 Phalcon AWACS and the indigenously developed Netra AEW&C. However, the final approval for six Netra Mk-1A AEW&C systems is still pending, said sources. The Netra Mk1A is an advanced iteration of the DRDO-developed Netra Mk-1 AEW&C system, which has proven its operational mettle in high-stakes scenarios like the 2019 Balakot airstrike and the recent Operation Sindoor on May 7, 2025. The AEW&C system is crucial for monitoring enemy territory from a distance, providing an early warning of incoming aerial threats. The decision to built India's defence capabilities aggressively came after military chiefs and national security planners met to discuss learnings from Operation Sindoor, that took place on June 7, 2025. The consensus emerged that India needs to build better and more lethal capabilities, as Pakistan will acquire more capabilities from China. First Published: June 10, 2025, 09:24 IST
India Today
28-05-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Pak's Bholari base hangar hit by India had Saab airborne control aircraft, 4 jets
The Bholari airbase in Pakistan struck by the Indian Air Force earlier this month had four western fighter jets, and a Saab 200 AEW&C (Airborne Early Warning and Control) aircraft stationed inside, top sources told India Today TV. The Bholari base is located less than 100 miles from the port city of Karachi, and was one of nearly a dozen air force targets struck by India during Operation particular hangar at the base was hit by the Indian Air Force, caused by a long-range BrahMos missile. The strike caused a small hole in the hangar rooftop and has caused major damage inside, which was also captured earlier on satellite images from May 11. Bholari airbase damage captured on satellite. Top sources also told India Today TV that the Air Force took out four to five major air defence missile launchers and American and Chinese radars deployed in the Punjab province. Earlier, the Chief Minister of Pakistan's Sindh province confirmed that Indian air strikes targeting the Bholari airbase resulted in the deaths of six air force staff in December 2017, the Bholari airbase was regarded as one of Pakistan's most advanced main operational bases. It is home to the 19 Squadron and the Operational Conversion Unit (OCU), operating F-16A/B Block 15 ADF PAK BASES WERE HITOn May 8, Pakistan attempted to attack Indian military bases following India's Operation Sindoor strikes on terror camps in Pakistan and POK in response to the April 22 Pahalgam attack that killed 26 civilians. In retaliation, the IAF conducted coordinated precision strikes on at least eight Pakistani military bases on May 10, and took out the entire command and control systems of the Pakistan Air from Bholari, other key airbases, including Nur Khan, Sargodha, Rafiqui, Murid, Chaklala, Rahim Yar Khan, and Chunian were and decoys were used to carry out the strikes, causing significant damage to the infrastructure and ground assets of the Pakistan Air Force. The technical analysis of the damage caused in the attack is only used air-launched weapons in the conflict against Pakistan, and not weapons like surface-to-surface missiles. It has technical and video evidence of its attacks on terror camps in Pakistan and POK, as well as of the strikes carried out at Pakistani military bases from the BrahMos missiles, the Russian-made S-400 air defence systems were also used, causing major damage to the fast-moving targets of the Pakistan Air InMust Watch
Scoop
07-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
China's Great Wall & Egypt's Pyramids
BANGKOK, Thailand -- It's a long way from China's Great Wall to Egypt's pyramids, but for the first time Chinese and Egyptian warplanes are conducting a joint military exercise above the Nile River, extending Beijing's reach into the African continent. Chinese fighter jets, Airborne Early Warning and Control planes, aerial refueling tankers, and helicopter gunships have been roaring across the sky alongside Egyptian Air Force warplanes, after taking off from Egypt's Wadi Abu Rish Air Base in the desert. The China-Egypt Eagles of Civilization 2025 joint air force exercise began on April 19 and ends in early May, and is expected to strengthen Beijing's links with Africa's strongest military and a strategic U.S. ally. China maintains an East African naval base in Djibouti on the Red Sea. Cairo, hoping to diversify, is now welcoming Beijing's interest and possible Chinese weapons sales. "This will help enhance technical and tactical capabilities of the two air forces, and deepen substantive cooperation between the Chinese and Egyptian militaries," China's National Defense Ministry spokesman Snr. Col. Zhang Xiaogang told a news conference on April 24. "The joint training will run until early May. The Chinese PLAAF [People's Liberation Army Air Force] aircraft will train in collaboration with assets of the Egyptian Air Force. "This will help enhance technical and tactical capabilities of the two air forces and deepen substantive cooperation between the Chinese and Egyptian militaries," Snr. Col. Zhang said. The air combat exercises include Chinese mid-air refueling with a Y-20U aerial tanker, air support, battlefield search and rescue, and a Kong Jing-500 Airborne Warning and Control System. Beijing also sent China's stealthy J-10 Fighter Jets, known by NATO as Firebirds, prized for dogfighting maneuverability, precision strikes, and ability to be configured with air-to-air and air-to-ground bombs, anti-radiation missiles, and a 23mm cannon, reports said quoting the China 3 Army Telegram channel. Egypt filled the sky with MiG-29M/M2 Fulcrum multi-role fighters and other aircraft from the base which is about 60 miles west of the Gulf of Suez -- about 4,500 miles from Beijing. "The [Chinese] air unit has adopted a mixed force formation that combines air transfer and aerial transportation, which ensured full deployment of all personnel and equipment,' according to China's CCTV. "It has been suggested that China can use the exercise to train against relatively modern MiG-29s, a type that remains a primary fighter for the Indian Air Force and Navy," said The War Zone, a Florida-based military website. "The Egyptian MiG-29M/M2 share many similarities with the Indian Air Force & Indian Navy's MiG-29UPG & MiG-29K such as the same avionics suite," it said. China and India fought a brief war in 1962 which New Delhi lost, resulting in seized Himalayan mountain territory by both sides. "With the real possibility of drastic [U.S.] foreign aid cuts to beneficiaries like Egypt, Cairo could see Beijing as an alternative to Washington's largesse and resulting attached strings," The War Zone said. "Significant US military aid to Egypt has been frozen and unfrozen in recent years, as successive U.S. administrations weigh human rights concerns against Cairo's ability to assist in different geopolitical crises," reported Breaking Defense, an New York-based online military site. "It is China that is building Egypt's new capital city, intended to be an international gem in beauty, architecture, wealth, and grandeur," Israeli former intelligence officer and expert on Egypt, Lt. Col. (Res.) Eli Dekel told Maariv news. China is "also building at least two very important, large ports in Egypt, in Abu Qir. China has a lot of involvement, so I'm not surprised they are conducting this exercise," Lt. Col. Dekel said, according to the Jerusalem Post. Abu Qir Peninsula and Bay are on Egypt's Mediterranean coast, northeast from Alexandria, valued for its natural gas production and sheltered waters. Richard S. Ehrlich is a Bangkok-based American foreign correspondent reporting from Asia since 1978, and winner of Columbia University's Foreign Correspondents' Award. Excerpts from his two new nonfiction books, "Rituals. Killers. Wars. & Sex. -- Tibet, India, Nepal, Laos, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka & New York" and "Apocalyptic Tribes, Smugglers & Freaks" are available at
Asia Times
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Asia Times
China muscling in on US Egyptian ally
It's a long way from China's Great Wall to Egypt's pyramids, but for the first time, Chinese and Egyptian warplanes are conducting a joint military exercise above the Nile River, extending Beijing's reach into the African continent. Chinese fighter jets, Airborne Early Warning and Control planes, aerial refueling tankers and helicopter gunships have been roaring across the sky alongside Egyptian Air Force warplanes after taking off from Egypt's Wadi Abu Rish Air Base in the desert. The China-Egypt Eagles of Civilization 2025 joint air force exercise began on April 19 and ends in early May, and is expected to strengthen Beijing's links with the African continent's strongest military and a long-time strategic US ally. China maintains an East African naval base in Djibouti on the Red Sea. Cairo, hoping to diversify its strategic relations, is now welcoming Beijing's interest and possible Chinese weapons sales. 'This will help enhance technical and tactical capabilities of the two air forces, and deepen substantive cooperation between the Chinese and Egyptian militaries,' China's National Defense Ministry spokesman Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang told a news conference on April 24. 'The joint training will run until early May. The Chinese PLAAF [People's Liberation Army Air Force] aircraft will train in collaboration with assets of the Egyptian Air Force. 'This will help enhance technical and tactical capabilities of the two air forces and deepen substantive cooperation between the Chinese and Egyptian militaries,' Zhang said. The air combat exercises include Chinese mid-air refueling with a Y-20U aerial tanker, air support, battlefield search and rescue, and a Kong Jing-500 Airborne Warning and Control System. Beijing also sent China's stealthy J-10 fighter jets, known by NATO as Firebirds, prized for dogfighting maneuverability, precision strikes and ability to be configured with air-to-air and air-to-ground bombs, anti-radiation missiles and a 23mm cannon, reports said quoting the China 3 Army Telegram channel. Egypt filled the sky with MiG-29M/M2 Fulcrum multi-role fighters and other aircraft from the base, which is about 37.3 kilometers (60 miles) west of the Gulf of Suez and about 2,800 kilometers (4,500 miles) from Beijing. 'The [Chinese] air unit has adopted a mixed force formation that combines air transfer and aerial transportation, which ensured full deployment of all personnel and equipment,' according to China's CCTV. 'It has been suggested that China can use the exercise to train against relatively modern MiG-29s, a type that remains a primary fighter for the Indian Air Force and Navy,' said The War Zone, a Florida-based military website. 'The Egyptian MiG-29M/M2 share many similarities with the Indian Air Force & Indian Navy's MiG-29UPG & MiG-29K such as the same avionics suite,' it said. 'With the real possibility of drastic [US] foreign aid cuts to beneficiaries like Egypt, Cairo could see Beijing as an alternative to Washington's largesse and resulting attached strings,' The War Zone said. 'Significant US military aid to Egypt has been frozen and unfrozen in recent years, as successive US administrations weigh human rights concerns against Cairo's ability to assist in different geopolitical crises,' reported Breaking Defense, a New York-based online military site. 'It is China that is building Egypt's new capital city, intended to be an international gem in beauty, architecture, wealth, and grandeur,' Israeli former intelligence officer and expert on Egypt, Lieutenant Colonel (Res.) Eli Dekel told Maariv news. China is 'also building at least two very important, large ports in Egypt, in Abu Qir. China has a lot of involvement, so I'm not surprised they are conducting this exercise,' Dekel said, according to the Jerusalem Post. Abu Qir Peninsula and Bay are on Egypt's Mediterranean coast, northeast of Alexandria, and valued for its natural gas production and sheltered waters. Richard S Ehrlich is a Bangkok-based American foreign correspondent reporting from Asia since 1978, and winner of Columbia University's Foreign Correspondents' Award. Excerpts from his two new nonfiction books, 'Rituals. Killers. Wars. & Sex. — Tibet, India, Nepal, Laos, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka & New York' and 'Apocalyptic Tribes, Smugglers & Freaks' are available here.
