DRDO to integrate AEW&C systems on EMB-145I aircraft in July

India will begin integrating indigenously-built airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) systems and components onto a customised Brazilian Embraer -145 aircraft from July, a top defence official said Saturday.

According to DRDO chief and scientific advisor to the defence minister, Dr VK Saraswat, the first Embraer plane (EMB-145I) will land in India by June-end after its power units have been connected to the indigenously built airborne early warning radar fitted atop the fuselage. Integration of its sub-systems will begin in July, in order to prepare the aircraft for user trials.

India has placed a $400 million order for three such aircraft with Brazilian aerospace major Embraer. All three aircraft, customised with advanced indigenously built radars and sensors, will be readied for induction into the Indian Air Force (IAF) service by 2013.

Read more