EYE IN THE SKY

India became the first South Asian country to own an Airborne Early Warning&Control System(AWACS), with Israeli Phalcon reaching Jamnagar Airbase on Monday. The Phalcon, Indian nicknamed as Baaz, mounted on Russian Ilyushin-76(IL-76)heavy lift transport aircraft's airframe, left Israel on Sunday. The delivery of the AWACS was delayed due to some last minute technical checkups. The Phalcons will be formally inducted into the Indian Air Force on May 28th by Defence Minister A.K. Antony. Under the tripartite deal between India, Israel and Russia, the remaining two AWACS will be delivered by mid or late 2010.
Aptly described as "eye in the sky", the system will be primarily used for detecting incoming cruise missiles and aircrafts from hundreds of kilometres away. It can direct airdefence fighters during combat operations and helps detect troop buildup across the borders. The system will now serve the IAF frontline fighters like Sukhoi-30 MKIs, Mirage-2000s and Jaguars to provide data on incoming enemy aircraft or missiles much beyond the visual range through a direct link.

Israel in the past few years has emerged as the largest supplier of defence equipment to India. India and Israel are said to be negotiating for the purchase of three more Phalcon AWACS. All the six AWACS will be linked with the country's first military satellite proposed to be launched by the middle of the next year. Phalcon AWACS a potent force multiplier will help maintain air superiority and provide intelligence inputs.