Gertz:
India readying $800-million deal to purchase 2 AWACs from Israel
LONDON — Indian sources said the Defense Ministry was drafting a contract for the procurement of two airborne early-warning and alert aircraft from Israel.The ministry has selected the Russian-origin A-50EI cargo aircraft as the platform for the Israeli Phalcon AEW system.
“The Phalcons significantly boost the effectiveness of both offensive and defensive operations,” an Indian defense official said. “Their enhanced detection and interception capability, connected to fighters and surface-to-air missile systems, are tremendous force-multipliers.”
On Nov. 8, the Times of India reported that New Dehli was approaching another AEW deal with Israel. The first contract, signed in 2004, was reported at $1.1 billion and called for the purchase of three Phalcon systems installed on the A-50.
“It [the latest deal] is now the final stages of being examined,” the newspaper said.
In 2011, India received the last of the three AEW platforms from Israel.
The sources said the Indian Air Force was satisfied with Phalcon, developed by Israel
Aerospace Industries, and determined the need for additional platforms. India’s neighbor and rival, Pakistan, has purchased four AEW aircraft from Sweden’s Saab and ordered another four from China.
Phalcon can detect targets at a range of up to 400 kilometers. India also sought to develop indigenous AEW systems, including those small enough to be installed on the Brazilian-origin Embraer-145 business jet.
Meanwhile the US cuts defense finds by 40%.
Otherwise, no problemo.
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