New Delhi. There is a saying that the journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step, and the Indian Air Force’s first major step towards net centricity with links to ground stations from air to carry out aerial interceptions and control is about to begin with the induction of the first of three A-50E/ Phalcon Airborne Warning & Control Systems (AWACS) aircraft beginning May 2009.

IAF crews are already in Israel completing trials and making checks for the aircraft’s nonstop flight to India. There are last minute but standard checks now being made on the aircraft components and engines on the one hand and electronic systems and rotodome on the other. The software of the onboard systems has already been mated to the modular IAF Command and Control computers as well as aircraft, aerostats and other assets.

As per the original schedule, all the three aircraft ordered by IAF should normally have been here by now but delays have occurred due to the delivery of IL 76 aircraft from Russia to Israel, structurally mounting the huge rotodome atop them, and mating the Israeli and Indian avionics and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) systems on board.

Eventually, all the Indian assets, including those of the Navy and Army, should be networked for an integrated approach to threats.

Air Chief Marshal F H Major told India Strategic in a recent interview that the AWACS capability would be a big boost towards timely detection of hostile threats, including missiles, thereby enabling the Indian armed forces to appropriately respond to them.

“Besides the acquisition of the most capable combat assets available, we are laying down a robust secure network that will integrate all our sensors, weapons and operations centres so as to reduce the decision cycle and make our air and space operations more responsive and effective.”

Elaborating the IAF perspective, Air Chief Marshal Major said: “It involves the employment of potent combat platforms, armed with long rage sensors, Beyond the Visual Range (BVR) missiles, requisite electronic and precision strike capability. The range would be enhanced by utilizing air-to-air refueling capability and Command and Control by airborne AWACS in coordination with other airborne and ground-based sensors like the aerostats and high powered radars.”

Plans are now underway to acquire more aerostats.

Notably, Israeli UAVs and aerostats are already operational with the Indian forces, and to that extent, the process of integration is easier. Israelis have in fact mastery in improving and integrating Soviet and Russian systems also, while their own systems are largely built on or derived from US technologies.

As several Israeli systems borrow either US technology, components or financial assistance, Israel is obliged to take US government clearance to share its military products or their technology with other countries.

It was in November 2003 that Israel received clearance from the US to go ahead with a $ 1.1 billion contract to supply three Phalcon systems to India. Russia’s Rosoboronexport State Corp and the Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) joined in for supply of the three AWACS built on IL-76 transport planes, supplied in turn by Uzbekistan’s Tashkent Aircraft Production Organisation (TAPO).

Although the aircraft is no more under production in Tashkent, where its factory was set up in the 1960s under the Soviet establishment, the IL 76 is still sturdy and its latest versions, built in the 1990s or just before, can serve for 15 to 20 years. Russia is though considering to revive its production to meet potential requirements from its own forces as well as those of China and India.

It may be recalled that Israel had also signed a deal to supply the Phalcons to China, but had to walk out after Washington said “No” to it.

The Indian Air Force has successfully operated a number of IL-76s heavy transporters.

It also flies another six recently acquired aircraft, designated IL-78 for mid-air refueling role, and all of them have given the IAF strategic airlift capability, tested first in the 1988 Operation Cactus to assist the government of Maldives survive a coup attempt. Last year, the transport aircraft as well as tankers were used to ferry personnel and equipment for the multi-nation Red Flag combat exercise in the US.

All the two dozen-plus IL 76 platforms with the IAF, including the refuelers and Phalcons, are being based at the Air Force Station Agra, the city of the famous while marble monument of love, the Taj Mahal.

The Phalcon AWACS aircraft is based on four sensors, a very powerful radar, IFF, Electronic Support Measures/Electronic Intelligence (ESM/ELINT) and Communication Support Measures/Communication Intelligence (CSM/COMINT). A unique fusion technology continuously cross-relates the data gathered by all the sensors.

When one of the sensors reports detection, the system automatically initiates an active search of the complementary sensors, and it also has passive modes for intelligence gathering to build up electronic libraries.

India’s Centre for Air Borne Studies (CABS) at Bangalore has also progressed a rectangular, phased array radar with Tranmit/Receive switches. Displayed at Aero India, it will be mounted on Embraer- 145s from Brazil. Embraer technicians will help operationalise and fit the system as they have the experience of out fitting the Erieye radars from SAAB. The Pakistan Air Force is inducting the Erieye built on SAAB 2000 platforms.

The Phalcon consists of EL/M-2075 AESA Lima and Sierra band radars which have triangular configuration and the three antenna arrays are mounted within a circular radome atop the fuselage. The beam is electronically-steered to provide all round 360-degree coverage, and the system has stations for up to 10 mission controllers who take responsibility for airspace surveillance and airborne interceptions.

This will be a totally new operational methodology for the IAF but the IAF pilots have had some experience of operating the similar system on board the E-3 sentry AWACS of the US Air Force in Cope India exercises and with France. BARCO of Belgium, which has set up manufacturing facilities in India and is the preferred supplier for displays even for the Indian Navy, has supplied the 20-inch AMLCDs for the mission management suite, with Tadiran Spectra LINK supplying the secure digital data links.

The pulse-Doppler radar with a Moving Target Indicator (MTI) for improved target detection provides overland coverage against aircraft targets around 230 km and can simultaneously handle over 50 targets.

The primary radar is conjoined with an Elbit Systems-supplied ELINT suite and SATCOMS and COMINT communications to transmit digital data in two-way data-linking protocols.

The facilities at IAF operation centres will be needed to hook up to ensure that there is seamless command and control during missions, leading to net centricity. This will take time before full operational capability (FOC) is achieved.

Air Chief Marshal Major has correctly, and repeatedly, stressed the need for an Aerospace Command to control the skies and coordinate with the civil aviation authorities and this subject may take centre stage, because India’s civilian and military ATC systems do not function seamlessly. Not as yet, anyway.

The satellite-based air tracking system GAGAN, which is being commissioned by Raytheon, with ground stations will have to be integrated in to the air management architecture, both for the Phalcons and the accompanying composite combat aircraft formations for offensive and defensive flight sorties. In due course, the Elta and IAI supplied Searcher and Heron Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) with inputs and equipment pods in the IAF, and the EL/M-2090 Green Pine Early Warning (EW) and Fire Control (FC) radar for the DRDO’s anti ballistic missile defence system, based on the Prihvi Air Defence Interceptor will also need to be integrated.

The long range of Green Pine radar system ensures long range alert and also allows shots to be taken at the incoming aircraft and missiles. For that, planning to present a composite picture has already begun.

The Indian Navy has moved forward and is set to award a contract for such a sea-based NCW system, as its own LINK II system is now operational in ships and aircraft. The LINK II system manufactured by Bharat Elcetroincs Ltd was showcased at Aero India.

The Indian Navy will also have to experiment with the Phalcon for maritime operations and air battle management at sea. The Phalcon radar has the capability to transmit a very short pulse to reduce the sea clutter and detect moving and stationary ships.

The electronic charts (maps) of the coast can be fed in to the Phalcon computer to automatically remove shoreline returns from the screen. The Phalcons would also be able to guide MiG-29K aircraft from the aircraft carrier INS Vikramditya or from shore to carry out anti-ship strikes and interceptions.

Although the Navy is acquiring the Boeing P8-I Multi Mission Aircraft from the US, the IAF Phalcons can also make available data for OTH (Over-The-Horizon) targeting of ships and in the ultimate, may even form part of India’s ballistic missile shield from the seas in the Endo and Exo regimes.

The AWACS is considered the central pillar of modern air defence systems and the most effective means by which a nation can avert the catastrophe of a surprise air attack.