The Indian Air-borne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) System to be integrated on to the Brazilian EMB-145 Aircraft
The Centre for Air-Borne Systems (CABS), DRDO, Bangalore, is developing an Air-borne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) system for the Indian Air Force (IAF). The AEW&C Mission system comprises many sub-systems like Radar and communication links, that are being designed and developed by DRDO. This is a multi-laboratory programme of DRDO coordinated by CABS, Bangalore. The indigenous AEW&C Mission system will be optimally integrated onboard the Brazilian regional jet aircraft, EMB-145 as per IAF requirement.
The EMB-145 aircraft will be modified to carry DRDO’s Active Array Antenna Unit (AAAU), mounted on top of the aircraft’s fuselage. The aircraft structure will be modified to carry other antennas and subsystems. The rest of the sub-systems including the Operator Work Stations will be distributed in a customized layout in the aircraft cabin.
The EMB-145 basic aircraft will be modified at the works of M/s Embraer, Brazil, to incorporate the necessary structural modifications to receive the Indian AAAU as well as other mission systems. Flight-testing of the modified EMB-145 with replicated dummy AAAU to simulate the actual aerodynamics and simulated loading of the cabin will be carried out by M/s Embraer to ensure airworthiness of the air vehicle.
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.
Three modified EMB-145 aircraft will be developed under this agreement, of which first one is expected to reach India in July 2011. The contract was jointly signed by Dr S Christopher, Director, CABS from DRDO side and Mr Luis Carlos Aguiar, Executive Vice President (Defence and Govt. Market) from M/s Embraer side in the presence of H.E. Marco Brandao, Ambassdor of Brazil to India and M Natarajan, Scientific Advisor to Raksha Mantri. Addl. FA (P) & JS, CC R&D (AMS) & DS and CC R&D (SI) & DS along with other members from DRDO, and representatives from IAF and MEA were also present during the ceremony.
(photos: S. Prasad)
6 Responses to “The Indian Air-borne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) System to be integrated on to the Brazilian EMB-145 Aircraft”
By Tango Charlie on Jul 4, 2008 | Reply
Look everyone look, Here is another non-starter from DRDO!! The Embraer platform is totally unsuitable for the role as it has poor endurance. The IAF has been saying this for ages but who is listening! Just about 3 hrs!! The IAF has been saying this for ages but who is listening!
Here goes lots more money into the drain or more correctly into the pockets of the Brazilian’s.
By ajit on Jul 4, 2008 | Reply
Totally unsuitable? Can you eleborate?
By Bobb on Jul 5, 2008 | Reply
the Embraer 190 would have been a better choice, given its higher TOW & payload capacity and ability to operate at higher altitudes as required by IAF.
By Mad on Jul 5, 2008 | Reply
If wishes were horses. Embraer would have delivered 190 at the end of the century with antenna’s and modifications. and who would have paid for the research and development?
By Alok on Jul 8, 2008 | Reply
Please do some research before criticizing something because you read a biased article in some newspaper. Read the following article at Global Security. FYI the EMB-148 can stay in the air for 8 hours.
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/brazil/emb145.htm
Have patience and wait for the initial results before you jump the gun and condem DRDO.
By Mad on Jul 8, 2008 | Reply
Alok,
8 hours is under “optimum conditions.” When you start customisations, there are penalities is huge numbers.
Hypothically, take the endurance at 8 hours. So, take off, air space issues will take it atleast 15 - 30 mins, multiply that by 2 as it has to land back too, So strike out 45 mins out of it. Then it has to fly to the destination area for Patrol and come back, deduct 1 more hour. So, the time for actual usage is only 6 odd hours. Then you have to consider the speed it has to fly, so, the endurance will reduce down to approx 1 hour in case of emergencies. So, the balance endurance is 5 odd hours.
Tango Charlie could be correct about the 3 hours endurance. We will have to see what is the IAF’s configuration of AEW&C. We will have to wait and see tat what he claims that IAF does not want the aircraft is true or not. About his attack on DRDO, its irrelevant, Tango Charlie has half baked knowledge and hence displays it.
Break his sentences into 2.
Second part he throws up a number 3hrs, then he claims that IAF does not want it. The inference is that he knows something from IAF walas.
First part he says that its a non starter from DRDO, that means he has no knowledge of preperations from DRDO side.