How does Awacs work..Enemies will be dealt with in the sky by indigenous airborne early warning and control system

India is going to develop indigenous 'Airborne Early Warning and Control System' (AWACS India) to strengthen its air security. This will enhance the Indian Air Force's ability to detect and respond to threats.

India is going to strengthen its air security even more. The government has approved the indigenously made 'Airborne Early Warning and Control System' (AWACS India). This is a very important and futuristic technology. Its purpose is to create an aerial surveillance system in the country itself which is very powerful and is capable of foiling the enemy's nefarious designs in time. This project will cost around Rs 20,000 crore. Its goal is to make India self-reliant in this technology. This will bring a big change in India's defense system. With this, India will join the select countries that have developed this technology on their own.

Why is Swadeshi AWACS necessary?

In today's warfare, superiority is not just achieved by the number of aircraft or missiles. Who sees first, reacts quickly and coordinates better also makes a big difference. This is what indigenous AWACS (or AEW&C) will enable India to do: - Longer visibility, quicker decision making and the opportunity to retaliate smarter are at its core. AWACS India is more than just a radar in the skies. It is a sea change in airborne surveillance and battle management. It enhances the ability of the Indian Air Force to monitor, intercept and defeat threats before they reach Indian airspace. In other words, the Indian Armed Forces are going to get a watchtower in the skies.

What is AEW&C

AWACS is a flying radar system. It is a powerful surveillance and battle management platform mounted on an aircraft. Usually, it has a rotating radar dome or a wing-shaped device on top. It acts like an 'eye in the sky'. It rapidly scans large parts of the airspace. It also detects enemy fighter planes, drones (UAVs) and ground activities. But, its job is not just to detect. AWACS acts like a command center in the sky. It coordinates with its own and friendly aircraft and sends information to stations on the ground, so that its aircraft can be shown the right direction to prevent enemy attacks.

How AWACS works

AWACS uses AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array) radar technology. It also has a system to process the signal, analyze the threats and communicate safely. All this is done while flying at a very high altitude so that maximum area can be covered. It is not just a sensor but a 'force multiplier'. This will give the Indian Air Force (IAF) a better idea of the situation as it helps in taking the right decisions at the right time.

From 'Netra' to 'Netra Mk-II'

India is already using the smaller 'Netra' AEW&C system. These systems are installed on Embraer jets. Apart from this, there are also IL-76 Falcon systems from Russia and Israel . 'Netra' has worked well in war situations like Balakot airstrike. But, IL-76 aircraft keep having technical problems and are not always available. The new AWACS India, often called 'Netra Mk-II', is going to bring a big change. This version will be installed on the Airbus A321 platform. Six aircraft from Air India's fleet have been converted for this. Major changes will be made in these aircraft. A radar fin will also be installed in them, which will provide radar coverage up to 360 degrees. For the first time, Airbus is entering this field. Earlier this field was dominated by Boeing's E-3 Sentry system. This shows that the AWACS platform is now diversifying. Airbus, DRDO and Indian private sector companies are working together. Their goal is to have this fleet ready within three years.

Strategic importance of AWACS

The impact of this program is not just limited to the country's defense needs. India's ability to design, integrate and produce such a complex system on its own will also open up export opportunities, especially to friendly countries looking for cheaper alternatives to Western AWACS. This program will give Indian defense companies (both public and private) experience in high-end aerospace integration. This includes radar technology, mission control software, avionics and secure data links. In this way, it is an attempt to create an ecosystem.

Role of DRDO, CABS

The Centre for Airborne Systems (CABS) under DRDO is responsible for taking this work forward. CABS is the nodal agency for airborne surveillance development in India. Its job is to develop Airborne Electronic Force Multiplier (AEFM). Their portfolio includes AWACS, maritime surveillance systems and ISTAR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance) platforms.

PC:NBT