Indian Air Force formally inducted the 2nd Airborne Early Warning & Control(AEW&C) aircraft into its inventory on Wednesday. The AEW&C aircraft was inducted during a ceremony held at Air Force Station Bhisiana in Punjab. Air Marshal R Nambiar, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Air Command was chief guest at the event.



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Here are seven salient features of the AEW&C system.


- It is developed by the Center of Airborne Systems in Bengaluru with the help of Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO)


- The project costs a total of Rs 2,400 crore


- The system has been programmed to detect and classify aerial threats in the surveillance area


- It acts as a Command base in support for all Air-Defence operations


- It has been integrated on the Brazilian-made Embraer-145 aircraft


- The system holds a 240-degree coverage radar


-The multiple communications and data links present in the AEW&C system will provide  Recognizable Air Surveillance Picture to commanders at the Ground Exploitation Stations 


The first AEW&C aircraft was inducted into the IAF on February 14, 2017 during the Aero India-2017 held at Bangalore. The aircraft has since provided Air Defence surveillance and control from the mountainous terrains of J&K, through the deserts of Rajasthan and stretching to the Rann of Kutch.


It also took part in all major exercises conducted by IAF over the last two years. 


The AEW&C aircraft also participated in Ex-Cope India 2018, where it controlled both Indian and US fighters. This potent force multiplier also holds the distinction of undertaking the first-ever Air-to-Air refuelling by any transport aircraft in the IAF inventory. 


The induction of the second indigenously built AEW&C aircraft is another significant step towards fulfilling the ‘Make in India’ vision, and bolstering the operational capability of the IAF.