India está manteniendo conversaciones secretas con Israel para la compra de tres AWACS mas (Phalcon Airborne Early Warning and Control System), y estas están en un estado avanzado. Se espera una decisión a mediados de mayo de 2010. El segundo de los tres Phalcon pedidos a Israel, llegó a la India el pasado ocho de abril. Un grupo de técnicos israelíes llegó a la India para configurar la conexión del avión con los satélites militares hindúes. Los AWACS en servicio son operados por el 50 squadron con base en Agra y han realizado maniobras con los Su-30MKI, Mirage-2000 y los Jaguar.
India también ha acordado con Israel la entrega de aviones no tripulados Heron adicionales. India ha introducido en su Fuerza Aérea mas de 100 UAV desde 1999.
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India is holding unpublicized talks with Israel to purchase three more Phalcon Airborne Early Warning and Control System (AWACS) at the cost of more than US$1.5 billion.
According to defence observers the secret talks have already reached an advcance level between Indian and Israeli military officialsl but a final decision is expected by mid-May 2010. Meanwhile the second of the three Israeli-made Phalcon contracted earlier reached India on Thursday evening. . It is also learnt that a small group of Israeli defence experts had arrived in India apparently to link up Phalcon with Indian military satellites for enhanced surveillance activities in the region. India first reached an accord in 2003 deal worth USD 1.1 billion to buy three AWACS from Israel to be incorporated with and mounted on Russian-make IL-76 heavy-lift transport aircraft, of which the first was delivered in May last year.
Since the induction of the first system on May 28 last year it is being operated by the Agra-based 50 squadron and has been carrying out extensive flying operations with India’s frontline fighters such as the Su-30MKI, Mirage-2000 and the Jaguars.
According to defence experts India was now considering to link the additional three AWACS with its first military satellite due to be launched by the middle of next year.
Meanwhile India has also reached a secret agreement with Israel’s Aerospace Industries (IAI) last week ordering additional ‘Heron’ MALE (medium-altitude, long endurance) drones, ground control systems and data terminals. The latest deal worth more than Indian Rs 700 crore was signed by the two sides last week but neither side has officially confirmed the accord.
India has inducted well over 100 UAVs since the 1999 and the latest induction of Heron, Searcher II and Harpy ‘killer’ drones would strengthen further India’s goal to become well-equipped with attacker drones.
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