Latest news with #Awacs
Time of India
17-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
IAF to get six desi eyes in the sky that can track China, Pakistan activity from hundreds of km away
India has given final financial approval to a Rs 20,000 crore project to build six new airborne early warning and control systems ( Awacs India ) for the Indian Air Force (IAF), significantly boosting its ability to monitor enemy activity deep inside hostile territory. These aircraft will act as the country's 'big eyes in the sky', capable of tracking threats from hundreds of kilometres away. New Awacs aircraft to monitor skies, ground, and act as control centre As per an ET report by Mannu Pubby, the new Awacs, based on modified Airbus A321 planes, will be equipped with advanced radar and surveillance systems that can detect and monitor enemy aircraft, missile launches, and ground activity. They will also function as flying command centres, giving the IAF real-time control during air operations. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Select a Course Category Finance Project Management Operations Management Product Management Technology Leadership Healthcare Data Analytics Degree Data Science Design Thinking PGDM CXO Digital Marketing Data Science Artificial Intelligence Cybersecurity healthcare MBA MCA others Management Public Policy Others Skills you'll gain: Duration: 7 Months S P Jain Institute of Management and Research CERT-SPJIMR Fintech & Blockchain India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 9 Months IIM Calcutta SEPO - IIMC CFO India Starts on undefined Get Details The six aircraft have already been acquired from Air India. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) will now work with Airbus and Indian companies to integrate a complex radar dome and mission systems onboard. Top-mounted radar for all-round surveillance Each aircraft will undergo major structural changes, including the installation of a dorsal radar dome on the fuselage. This setup allows for 360-degree radar coverage over long ranges. The aircraft will also carry fully indigenous AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array) radars and mission control systems. Timeline and strategic boost The project is expected to be completed in three years. Once operational, the new Awacs will add strategic depth to India's defence surveillance network and reduce dependence on foreign platforms. This is also the first time an Airbus aircraft will be used in such a role in India, with Boeing systems dominating the space globally. Live Events You Might Also Like: ₹20,000 crore project: Indigenous Awacs gets go-ahead, to be developed by DRDO Officials see export potential for the indigenous systems once development and integration are completed. Home-made Awacs India programme The Awacs India programme, also called Netra MkII, is led by DRDO. It follows another recent approval given to the agency to build prototypes of India's fifth-generation Advanced Multirole Combat Aircraft. India currently operates smaller Netra systems, which played a key role in past standoffs with Pakistan. The IAF also uses three IL76-based Phalcon systems developed with Israel and Russia, but they have faced technical and maintenance issues. With the new approval, India aims to develop a more reliable, domestically built airborne surveillance system capable of keeping a constant watch on both China and Pakistan's military activity. How AWACS works thousands of km above ground in air Airborne Warning and Control Systems (AWACS) are specially modified aircraft fitted with powerful radars that can detect and track enemy aircraft, drones, and missile launches from hundreds of kilometres away. The system provides 360-degree surveillance of the airspace and relays real-time information to ground stations and fighter aircraft. This helps air forces detect threats early, identify targets, and respond faster during operations. AWACS aircraft act like flying command centres, equipped with advanced communication and data-link systems that allow them to coordinate air battles, guide interceptor jets to targets, and monitor enemy movements over both land and sea. The radar, usually mounted in a dome on top of the aircraft, scans the skies continuously, even tracking low-flying or stealthy targets that ground-based radars may miss. By staying airborne for long durations, AWACS extends the visibility and control range of the air force deep into enemy territory. Indian AWACS: Netra Series and Future Generations Netra Mk 1 – India's First Indigenous AWACS India's first indigenously developed Airborne Early Warning & Control System (AEW&C), named Netra, was formally handed over to the Indian Air Force (IAF) in 2017. It flies on an Embraer EMB‑145 platform, with a radar coverage of about 240° and tracking range between 250 km and 375 km, depending on the target's radar signature. The aircraft includes AESA radar, secondary surveillance radar, electronic support, identification friend or foe (IFF), satellite datalinks, and self‑protection systems including missile‑warning receivers and air‑to‑air refuelling for extended missions. Awacs Operational Use and Significance Netra played a critical role during the 2019 Balakot airstrike, offering real‑time surveillance and coordination of IAF assets. It has also been deployed to monitor sensitive regions such as the Ladakh area during standoffs with China. Netra Mk 1A Netra Mk 1A variant has enhanced mission suite, upgraded sensors, GaN‑based AESA radar, better human‑machine interface, and tighter integration into IAF systems. Expected to maintain the same 240° radar coverage but with longer range (approx. 450 km) and better detection of low‑observability aircraft like drones and stealth jets. Around six Netra Mk 1A units are planned under procurement (estimated value Rs 9,000 crore). Netra Mk 2: The Six Big Eyes in the Sky Netra Mk 2, based on the Airbus A321 platform, is India's next‑generation AEW&C. This version will feature 300° radar coverage, GaN‑based AESA radar with a detection range over 500 km, and improved all‑round situational awareness, including drone and low‑RCS aerial threats Deliveries are expected to begin in 2026–27, with the full six‑aircraft fleet inducted by the end of the decade.
Time of India
16-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
₹20,000 crore project: Indigenous Awacs gets go-ahead, to be developed by DRDO
India's Air Force will soon get six new, large Awacs. The government has approved the Awacs India project. DRDO will collaborate with Indian companies and Airbus. They will integrate advanced systems onto A321 aircraft. This project enhances India's defense capabilities. It also positions India among nations with indigenous Awacs technology. The project may also create export opportunities. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads The government has given a go-ahead to the production of next generation airborne early warning and control systems (Awacs India) which will be a major force multiplier for the Indian Air Force (IAF) and propel India into a select league of nations with such indigenously developed the project, expected to cost around ₹20,000 crore, the IAF will get six large Awacs that will be capable of tracking enemy aircraft, ground sensors and other equipment at large distances, besides acting as a flying operations control the government clearances in place, the Defence Research and Development Organisation will work with a host of Indian companies as well as Airbus to integrate a complex antenna and other systems onboard the A321 already has six of the aircraft that were taken from Air India in the past. These aircraft will undergo complex structural modifications and integration of a range of systems, including a dorsal fin mounted on the top that will enable an all-round radar project is expected to take around three years for completion and would give Indian companies valuable expertise in working on complex systems from the development stage. It includes a fully indigenous mission control system and AESA India programme - also referred to as the Netra MkII - has been spearheaded by DRDO, which also recently got a go-ahead from the government to move into the prototype production stage for fifth generation Advanced Multirole Combat is also the first time that an Airbus platform will be used for such an application, marking an entry into a domain that has traditionally been dominated by Boeing. The project could also open up export opportunities for India in the future as air force currently operates the much smaller 'Netra' early warning aircraft, which have been successfully utilised in conflicts with Pakistan. It also has three IL76 'Phalcon' systems that were jointly developed with Israel and Russia but the fleet has faced major technical and availability issues.
South China Morning Post
21-05-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
China's robot-made missiles, new bacteria strain found on Tiangong: 7 science highlights
We have put together stories from our coverage on science from the past two weeks to help you stay informed. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing China's state broadcaster has re-released footage from last year of a cutting-edge robotic production line for its advanced PL-15E air-to-air missiles, hours after Pakistan claimed that it used the Chinese-made weapon to shoot down five Indian fighter jets. Pakistan integrated Awacs aircraft into its air combat system. Photo: AFP An advanced 'ABC' data sharing system made all the difference in Pakistan's hostilities against Indian forces last week, upending combat conventions, according to a Chinese defence industry newspaper. In a report, China Space News said the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) deployed a 'locked by A, launched by B, guided by C' combat system, integrating ground radars with fighter jets, and airborne warning aircraft.
Express Tribune
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
ABC warfare: Pakistan's unified Radar-Jet-Awacs strategy exposes India's defence gaps
Pakistan's integration of advanced warfare systems has set a new benchmark in South Asian aerial defence, with China hailing Islamabad's tactical edge during the latest India-Pakistan border flare-up. A detailed report by China Space News, an outlet backed by China's top aerospace agencies, praised Pakistan's 'ABC' combat structurem locked by A, launched by B, guided by C as a turning point in intelligent warfare. The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) leveraged a seamless network of ground radars, fighter jets, and airborne warning and control systems (Awacs) to intercept and shoot down five Indian jets, according to official claims. The report credited this data-driven, decentralised approach for outperforming India's outdated, fragmented defence protocols. While the report didn't directly name Chinese weapons, Pakistan's recent acquisitions including the HQ-9P air defence system, ZDK-03 Awacs, and J-10CE fighter jets equipped with PL-15E missiles are all Chinese-made. The use of this integrated ecosystem exemplifies a new phase in Pak-China defence cooperation, rooted in precision, real-time intelligence sharing, and cost-effective deterrence. India, by contrast, has faced ongoing issues with interoperability between its imported systems an Achilles' heel that, analysts warn, could continue to hamper response time and coordination in future conflicts. With battlefield dynamics shifting from brute firepower to networked agility, Pakistan's success is being seen as a wake-up call. The report concluded that the country's intelligent, asymmetric strategy has not only neutralised India's numerical airpower advantage but also offered a model for how future warfare will be fought and potentially won. As geopolitical tensions persist, this episode reaffirms the strategic depth of the Pak-China partnership, positioning it at the forefront of next-generation military coordination
Daily Mail
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Ring of steel for Pope Francis' funeral with drone-busting troops part of huge security operation at the Vatican as the world's VIPs join 500,000 mourners
A massive security operation was under way last night as 500,000 mourners began to descend on Rome for Pope Francis 's funeral on Saturday. Officials are putting a ring of steel around the Vatican, with VIPs from 170 countries arriving in the Italian capital. They include Prince William, Sir Keir Starmer, Donald Trump and his wife Melania, as well as Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky and Italian premier Giorgia Meloni. Russian dictator Vladimir Putin has not been invited and will be represented by Olga Ljubimova, Russia 's culture minister. Army anti-drone units will join machine-gun toting police patrolling the route of the funeral procession and the site of the main service – St Peter's Basilica. The operation also includes special forces sharp-shooters on rooftops, undercover units, security teams on horseback, helicopter patrols and boats on the nearby River Tiber. A source said: 'We have heads of state from all over the world, members of several royal families and a host of other dignitaries, so it's huge security operation but we are prepared for anything.' Security is also being stepped up in and around the city's airports at Fiumicino and Ciampino. A military airbase at Pratica di Mare is also on standby. An Airborne Warning and Control System, or Awacs, plane will be circling above Rome – while down below drains and sewers are being checked. As mourners continued to line up to pay tribute to Pope Francis yesterday, at least three army air defence units were visible. Each consists of two servicemen – one anti-drone operator and a spotter using binoculars. They are armed with Italian-made CPM weapons which work by jamming the radio frequencies used by drones to communicate and navigate. One operator told the Daily Mail: 'I can't go into too much detail but … we can direct it away or make it land.' The Vatican has a small ceremonial army of Swiss Guards and there is also the Vatican Security Service, the Pope's bodyguards. But the main security will be provided by the Italian government and there will be thousands of police and soldiers in and around the Vatican and along the four-mile route from St Peter's to the Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica where Francis will be buried. Pilgrims continued to flock to the Vatican yesterday to pay their last respects to Pope Francis as he lay in state at the Altar of the Confessor inside the Basilica of St Peter's. Doors are due to close at 7pm on Friday so the coffin can be closed at 8pm and the Basilica prepared for Saturday's ceremony. In a break with tradition, Pope Francis asked to be buried at Santa Maria Maggiore instead of in the papal cemetery under St Peter's. This has added to the security headache and the route will have to be locked down, with the cortege moving slowly to enable the crowd to see it. ■ Visitors at St Peter's Basilica have been told to stop taking selfies near Pope Francis's open coffin. There had been an outcry after images of people holding up phones, smiling and giving peace signs appeared on social media. Yesterday it became evident a clampdown had been ordered. One man said: 'A guard told us that if we took photos, we would have to delete them or our phones would be confiscated.'
