Airborne Warning and Control Systems-AWACS

• Airborne Warning and Control System which are called "an eye in the sky " come under a project, which is a tripartite contract between India, Israel and Russia. The $1.1 billion deal for the three AWACS was signed in 2004.
• The first AWACS had come in May 2009. Second comes in March 2010. India has to be delivered a total of 3 AWACS. First AWAC is based at Agra and second also will be based at Agra airbase which is one of the largest in the country and has immense strategic importance.
• AWACS have the ability to detect aircraft, cruise missiles and other flying objects at ranges far greater than is possible through existing systems.
• Recently, it was reported that India will order another two advanced Israeli Phalcon AWACS.
• The Phalcons significantly boost the effectiveness of both offensive and defensive operations. Their enhanced detection and interception capability, connected to fighters and surface-to-air missile systems, are tremendous force-multipliers.
• Apart from detection of incoming cruise missiles and aircraft from over 400-km away in all-weather conditions, and direction of air defence fighters during combat operations, the Phalcons while flying well within Indian airspace can also monitor troop build-ups or activity at airbases and missile silos deep inside Pakistan.
• These indigenous airborne surveillance platforms will have a normal radar range of 250-km and a 375-km extended one, with a 240-degree coverage and five-hour endurance time.
• AWACS is a heavier and high endurance system, which can give you in terms of coverage about 360 degrees as against AEW&C(Airborne Early Warning and Control) which is about 270 degree coverage