Second airborne early warning & control aircraft inducted at Bathinda (w/pic)

Bathinda: The Indian Air Force (IAF) formally inducted the second airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft into its inventory during a ceremony held at Air Force Station, Bhisiana, on Wednesday. Air Officer Commanding in Chief, Western Air Command, Air Marshal R Nambiar was the present at the event. DRDO DG aeronautical systems Tessy Thomas handed over the keys of the aircraft to Bhisiana airbase officials.

Induction of the second indigenously built AEW&C aircraft is being considered significant step towards fulfilling the ‘Make in India’ vision and bolstering the operational capability of the IAF.

The AEW&C system is an indigenously developed & produced airborne surveillance system by the Centre for Airborne Systems (CABS), DRDO. The system is mounted on an Embraer-145 aircraft and has been designed specifically to suit the operational requirements of the IAF. The AEW&C aircraft is a proverbial ‘eye in the sky’ and derives its combat capability from a state-of-the-art integrated system comprising of multiple sensors, giving it an ability to pick up low-level targets deep inside the enemy’s airspace. The aircraft is also capable of air-to-air refuelling which significantly enhances its on-station operational endurance.

The first AEW&C aircraft was inducted into the IAF on February 14, 2017 during the Aero India-2017 held at Bangalore. The aircraft has since provided air defence surveillance and control from the mountainous terrains of J&K, through the deserts of Rajasthan and stretching to the Rann of Kutch. It also took part in all major exercises conducted by IAF over the last two years.