Thread by @VinodDX9

#IndiaWeapon

A) AEW&CS

1 :

EL/W 2090 Phalcon on Il-76 A-50EI
360° coverage, range 400-500 km

Three in services, two more will be acquired

#IndiaWeapon

2 :

DRDO 360° AWACS
Based in A-330

Initially two will be ordered, later six more will likely to be inducted.

#IndiaWeapon

3 :

NETRA , based on ERJ-145i
240° coverage

Two are in services

#IndiaWeapon

4 :

Upgraded Netra, offered to be based on C-295, 240° coverage but enhanced capability
IAF pushes for Five such platforms, but as total requirements of AEW&CS is 15, just two may acquired.

#IndiaWeapon

B) ISTAR

1 :

Reytheon Sentinel based on Bombardier Global Express

One will be Inducted

#IndiaWeapon

2 :

DRDO ISTAR

Three will be inducted, another one will see services with NTRO

#IndiaWeapon

C) Seven SIGINT,COMJAM, COMINT aircrafts

#IndiaWeapon

D) Air Refueller :

Six needed , competetion is between A-330 MRTT and KC-46. Hope, A-330 AEW&CS do not have to do role of a tanker too.

#IndiaWeapon

E) ASW/ASUW :

Total 12 will be in supplied to #IndianNavy by 2020 , 6 more are cleared to procure. So there will be a fleet of at least 18 such assets.

#IndiaWeapon

Before we proceed, here are my personal opinions

1) #IndianNavy should induct C-295 based ASW like C-295 MPA (developed from ongoing project of MMMA for ICG) as a low end complement of high end P-8I. In fact MBDA has offered us to integrate Marte ER into C-295.

#IndiaWeapon

2) #IAF should have own P-8I for recon & target tracking.
A recent report says P-8I actually can do that well
business-standard.com/article/pti-st…
In case cost factor makes hindrance they can go with C-295 .