Government Signs Key Deals Under AEW&C MK-II Project

The government of India’s fully-owned defence research arm, the Defence Research and Development Organisation, has achieved a key milestone in its ₹11,000 crore, or $1.2 billion project to supply six advanced airborne early warning and control, or AEW&C aircraft to the Indian Air Force.

On Wednesday, 22 July, the DRDO’s Centre for Air Borne Systems signed a contract with New Delhi-based AI Engineering Services Limited to convert six Airbus A321 passenger aircraft to green configuration. The conversion will make the aircraft ready to take on mission systems and function as fully-configured airborne early warning and control jets.

AIESL is a fully-owned Government of India undertaking that operates aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul facilities at the country’s largest airports. According to its website, the company is presently maintaining fleets of 76 Airbus 320 family, 72 Boeing 737, 747, 777 and 787, and 18 ATR-72 passenger jets.

The company operates a number of modern hangars, line and base maintenance, engine overhaul and structural repair workshops that maintain and repair avionics, cabins and seats, landing gear and other equipment, making it an ideal DRDO partner to convert Airbus jets from passenger to military planes.

As per the contract with the Centre of Air Borne Systems, AIESL will strip down six Airbus A321 aircraft purchased from Air India to bare bones. The aircraft will then be shipped to Airbus facilities in France where the manufacturer will repurpose the aircraft to make it suitable for military use.

The Centre for Air Borne Systems has also signed a contract with Adani Defence Systems and Technologies (ADSTL). As per the contract, ADSTL will serve as CABS’ development and production partner to integrate mission systems into the six revamped Airbus A321 aircraft.

Once Airbus Defence & Space repurposes the stripped down A321 aircraft, CABS and ADSTL will start installing mission systems to turn the six aircraft into Netra Mk2 AEW&C aircraft.

“AEW&C Mk II System from DRDO with CABS as the nodal laboratory will provide enhanced endurance, advanced airborne surveillance, secure communication, improved situational awareness and enhanced command and control capabilities,” DRDO said in a press release. “This, in turn, will give a significant boost to the air defence capabilities and aid in neutralising threats across extended ranges.”

The development follows a final operational clearance certification achieved by the first generation Netra Mk1 AEW&C aircraft, four of which have been developed by the DRDO. Built on the Embraer ERJ-145 passenger jet, Netra Mk1 features a dorsal-mounted Active Electronically Scanned Array radar that provides 240 degrees of coverage.

DRDO is presently developing a fleet of Netra Mk1A jets which may feature advanced Gallium Nitride-based AESA radars which will enable advanced electronic warfare and surveillance capabilities.