The DRDO press release is as follows:
INDIA’S FIRST AEW&C AIRCRAFT
MODIFIED AND FITTED WITH DRDO’S INDIGENOUS SYSTEMS LANDS ON INDIAN SOIL
New Delhi: Bhadrapada 02, 1934
August 24,
2012
First fully modified aircraft for
indigenous Airborne Early Warning and Control Systems landed on Indian soil at Centre
for Airborne Systems (CABS), Bangalore, (a DRDO laboratory) at HAL airport yesterday. Aircraft was received
by enthusiastic crowd from CABS, its work centers, Centre for Military
Airworthiness and Certification (CEMILAC) and IAF members. The aircraft and the
flight crew was received by Dr Christopher, Program Director and Dr K Tamil
Mani, Chief Executive, CEMILAC. The
aircraft and its crew from Indian Air Force and M/s Embraer were given a hearty
welcome with water cannon.
The acceptance of the Aircraft was
completed over a period of 15 days at Embraer Facilities in Brazil, by a team
from CABS, its work centres, CEMILAC, DGAQA & IAF.
The Aircraft was flagged off from M/s
Embraer, Brazil on 17 Aug 2012 by Shri G Elangovan, Chief Controller R&D,
Dr S Christopher, Programme Director, Mr K Tamil Mani, Chief Executive, CEMILAC
and team members and was flown across multiple continents to arrive in India.
The Aircraft ferried with several mission system external components of DRDO
including the Active Electronically scanned Array Antenna with passive
electronics fitted on the Aircraft.
The arrival of this Aircraft marks
the beginning of another phase of journey leading to the next major milestone
of integration of the DRDO developed mission system, which will be followed by
development flight trials in India beginning of 2013.
It may be noted
that this is the first Aircraft delivered by M/s Embraer for which the contract
was signed in 2008. The next Aircraft is expected to arrive in December 2012.
Not much indigenous as you know already. Sounds like DODO is going to hire foreign corp to 'help' install all the gadgets in this Brazilian plane.
ReplyDeleteThis is great, except they could have spared those water canons, especially because parts of the country are facing severe water shortage. Over-all, still great news and happy to see those pictures.
ReplyDeleteDJ @ 23.08.2012
ReplyDeleteIts usual and in fact the only way,to ask the original manufacturer of the Aircraft for such modifications.
The Swedish Eriye also has an option of being mounted on the same EMB platform.
DRDO has done great work on the radar and may this evolve into a diverse and effective system.
Until Handed over to IAF,These planes/platforms require TOP SECURITY FACILITY....ANY BODY REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED WITH EARLIER INDIGENOUS HS-748 BASED AE&W AIRCRAFT ? THAT WAS SABOTAGED ALONG WITH ALL TOP SCIENTISTS ONBOARD..AND PROGRAMME WAS STOPPED/CANCELLED.
ReplyDeleteHAL airport is usually guarded with CISF..They are just an INCAPABLE force to handle/protect this kind of STRATEGIC HIGH VALUE platforms...need special Security Audit & accordingly Role Based Access and surveillance by Automatic Electronic Systems along with Human force.
Welcome! Hope the local fittings and tests will go properly and timely.
ReplyDeleteHello colonel, while I'm usualy a fan of your work (excepting of course your fixation with the F35), I'm a little puzzled by your implied sarcasm in quoting the word 'indigenous' in your headline. It was never DRDO's task to build the plane, but only the AESA radar and associated fixtures. They never claimed any indigenous content in the plane either so I am at a loss to understand the meaning of the quotes.
ReplyDeleteAll Israeli air-borne radar platforms are on aircraft of non-Israeli origin.Why do we still expect that 'indigenous' means every nut,bolt,structure.system,sub-system and platforms has to be built domestically.Even the most advanced manufacturers in the world use several sub-systems procured from diverse sources.Cost effectiveness is key today and that cannot be done by trying to build everything under one roof or organisation.
ReplyDeleteThat's a great achievement
ReplyDeleteRegards, cabs in hyderabad