INDIA ADQUIRE AVIÕES AEW DA EMBRAER

DRDO to Use Embraer Platform for Early Warning Systems
	(Source: Press Information Bureau India; issued July 3, 2008)
	Embraer and DRDO will develop a new airborne early warning aircraft for India by fitting an Indian-developed active array radar to three EMB-145 aircraft. (Embraer photo) In a path-breaking development, India and Brazil have entered into a deal to jointly develop an Early Warning system for the Indian Air Force. The agreement was signed here today by Dr. S Christopher, Director, Centre for Airborne Systems (CABS), DRDO, and Mr. Luis Carlos Aguiar, Executive Vice President (Defence and Govt. Market), M/s Embraer in the presence of Mr. Marco Brandao, Brazilian Ambassador and Shri M Natarajan, Scientific Advisor to Defence Minister. The Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) System is being developed by the Bangalore-based CABS for the Indian Air Force. Under the deal, Brazil's Embraer aircraft manufacturer will modify its regional jet aircraft, EMB-145 to carry the Active Array Antenna Unit (AAAU), developed by the DRDO, on the aircraft's fuselage. Three modified EMB-145 aircraft will be developed under this agreement; the first one to be delivered in three years. The various sub-systems of the AEW&C Mission system will be integrated into the 'modified green' aircraft by DRDO and the full-fledged EMB-145 based AEW&C will be flight tested for mission system in India by DRDO along with IAF from 2012. The AEW&C system comprises many sub-systems like radar and communication links that are being designed and developed by DRDO. A few EMB-145 based AEW&C/AWACS versions are already in operation with Air Forces of Brazil, Mexico and Greece. (EDITOR’S NOTE: Indian press reports value the Embraer contract at $210 million. Separately, deliveries of the three Russian IL-76s fitted in Israel with IAI’s Phalcon radar and command and control system are scheduled for September, about a year late. These aircraft were ordered in 2004 under a $1.1 billion deal.)