Indian Air Force formally inducted the 2nd Airborne Early Warning & Control(AEW&C) aircraft into its inventory on Wednesday. The AEW&C aircraft was inducted during a ceremony held at Air Force Station Bhisiana in Punjab. Air Marshal R Nambiar, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Air Command was chief guest at the event.


Here Are Seven Salient Features of The AEW&C System:


- It is developed by the Centre of Airborne Systems in Bangalore with the help of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)

- The project costs a total of Rs 2,400 crore

- The system has been programmed to detect and classify aerial threats in the surveillance area

- It acts as a Command base in support for all Air-Defence operations

- It has been integrated on the Brazilian-made Embraer-145 aircraft

- The system holds a 240-degree coverage radar

-The multiple communications and data links present in the AEW&C system will provide Recognisable Air Surveillance Picture to commanders at the Ground Exploitation Stations 

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. 

The AEW&C aircraft also participated in Ex-Cope India 2018, where it controlled both Indian and US fighters. This potent force multiplier also holds the distinction of undertaking the first-ever Air-to-Air refuelling by any transport aircraft in the IAF inventory. 

The induction of the second indigenously built AEW&C aircraft is another significant step towards fulfilling the ‘Make in India’ vision, and bolstering the operational capability of the IAF.

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