Posting in case it wasnt posted here...
"Indian AEW&C System
The indigenous Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) is an effort to evolve a compact state-of-the-art airborne surveillance system for the Indian Airforce to mark a significant contribution to Defence preparedness by the DRDO with CABS (Bangalore) spearheading the programme as a nodal agency. The indigenous AEW&C is a multi-sensor system on a executive jet aircraft providing for all aspects of airborne surveillance.
The Capabilities, Operational Role & Functional Requirements: The Indian AEW&C system will detect, identify and classify threats present in the surveillance area and act as a Command and Control Centre to support Air Defence operations, like AWACS. The system with its multiple Communication and Data Links can alert and direct fighters against threats while providing ?Recognizable Air Surveillance Picture? (RASP) to commanders at the Ground Exploitation Stations (GES) that are strategically located. The AEW&C system can thus support Air Force in offensive strike missions and assist Forces in the tactical battle area. Besides, the Electronic and Communication Support Measures of the system can intercept and gather ELINT/COMINT from radar transmissions and communication signals. The AEW&C is a multi-sensor surveillance system that can perform the following operational roles as defined by the IAF:
The Functional Requirements of the IAF envisage:
The Platform: The Brazilian Emb-145 has been chosen as the platform aircraft for the AEW&C system. The aircraft modified for the role will have an additional Auxiliary Power Unit to power the radar systems. The cabin of the aircraft is being reconfigured to house five Operator Work Stations, four Racks to hold the mission system electronics, additional Fuselage Fuel Tanks and five rest crew seats. The platform aircraft is also installed with an In-flight Refuelling system to facilitate extended surveillance operations. The Emb-145 AEW&C I, as the indigenous system would be called, is capable of climbing to flight altitudes from where the radar can cover from ground level to maximum required altitude to detect airborne targets at a long range.
The Sensor Systems: The AEW&C system is a multi sensor airborne surveillance system. It comprises of Primary Radar (PR) and Secondary Surveillance Radar(SSR / IFF) as the active sensors onboard. The Electronic Support Measure (ESM) and the Communication Support Measure (CSM) systems will aid in identification / classification, based on the various emissions from the targets. The Self Protection Suite (SPS) will comprise of Radar Warning Receiver(RWR), which may be incorporated in the ESM system, Missile Approach Warning System (MAWS) and Counter Measures Dispensing system (CMDS). The AEW&C will have a 'C' Band data link and a 'Ku' band SATCOM link for air to ground communication. The C band Data Link and the 'Ku' Band SATCOM link will function as dual redundant system. The AEW&C will also have a Mission Communication System (MCS) consisting of a set of five V/UHF sets for air to air voice and data communication. The Mission System Controller (MSC) of AEW&C system will integrate all the sensor dat a and form system tracks and carry out other system control functions. The intercept control segment of the Mission System Controller (MSC) will carry out the battle management function and will guide the interceptors and vector strike aircraft in addition to carrying out the recovery operations. The Data Handling and Display System (DHDS) will display the Air Situation Picture (ASP) on Operator Work Station(OWS) and will provide all facilities for the operators to interact with the AEW&C system.
The Status: The AEW&C mission sub-systems are currently in an advanced stage of development and being tested in the System Test and Integration Rig (STIR) at CABS. CABS & LRDE have carried out radar performance tests on a Dual Segment Active Antenna Array Unit(AAAU) in a 100-ft test tower against opportune as well as assigned air targets. The radar performance in terms of range and azimuth-coverage has been assessed to match well with design performance values. The full-scale AAAU with fully-qualified Line Replaceable Units (LRUs) has also been collimated and Transmit- and Receive- pattern measurements done in the Planar Near Field Measurement (PNFM) facility at CABS. Other Sub-systems like the SSR, ESM, CSM, MCS, DHDS and DL have been airworthiness- qualified and put through rigorous functional and performance tests in the labs/ roof-top rigs/ hack aircraft. Once the modified Emb-145 platform from Brazil arrives in India, the AEW&C System integration on the aircraft will commence. After a brief and intense Development Flight Testing, the Emb-145 AEW&C India is expected to enter initial operational service with the Indian Air Force. That will mark a significant contribution to National Defence Preparedness by the DRDO."
http://drdo.gov.in/drdo/labs/CABS/English/index.jsp?pg=indian.html