"We have already moved the case for two more AWACS," IAF chief Air Chief Marshal P V Naik told the Times of India.
"Phalcon AWACS are tremendous force-multipliers. We are having an excellent experience with them. They will get their final operational clearance by October-November," said Naik said.
The aircraft are to be deployed in Agra with the IAF's 50 Squadron under the Allahabad-based Central Air Command, but will be assigned tasks directly by Air Headquarters.
In many aspects, the A-50 is comparable to the U.S. Air Force's E-3 Sentry. It is fitted with an aerial refueling system and electronic warfare equipment, and can detect targets up to 400 km (250 miles) away.
In 2009, India also purchased eight Boeing P-81 long-range maritime reconnaissance (LRMR) aircraft from the United States, and signed a deal with Brazil to jointly integrate domestically developed AWACS systems into three Brazilian-made Embraer-145 aircraft to be later commissioned with the Indian Air Force.
(RIA Novosti)
RIA Novosti
