Not entirely sure, but phalcon sized AWACS performing in this role will be well within Indian airspace protecting cities, strategic assets and supply chains etc... They will be afforded the maximum defense from other IAF and army aviation assets too.
I am talking of course in the future when there are at least 5 of them....and which will be ramped up to larger numbers with time.
It will be the embraer AWACS that will provide more flexible tactical coverage for Indian forward forces I would imagine....the aircraft itself being a smaller target, more maneuverable (for evasion) while still packing a real punch etc.... How those will be integrated in the system I am talking about (a look down defensive matrix) will remain to be seen since their capabilities are still being developed.
Assuming 5 AWACS with 3 in the air at any time....I would imagine something like this:
With gentle turn holding patterns for each one till they are rotated by a replacement. The smaller AWACS platforms will add on top of this as will any additional large Phalcon sized AWACS the IAF gets beyond the 5 it will be operating in the near future. I would assume it would be the smaller ones that would be changing sector given operational needs within IND or PAK airspace....but the phalcons themselves are more strategic I would imagine and must not venture into Pakistan airspace I think.
Some protection will be afforded by the northern most sentry to JnK (esp chicken neck area), but JnK does not have the level of strategic assets and population to defend as the other areas....so with 5 strategic AWACS, I do not see one being dedicated there purely. But it could potentially have a smaller one or two there depending on what type of operations the army want to conduct from there against the opponent. Maybe with time as sentry numbers are increased it will get a large strategic dedicated platform too....but right now I don't think so.
I believe so.
Yes this was tested, demonstrated and confirmed earlier.
Its potent capability that IAF should not underestimate. But the Phalcon AWACS has the nature of AESA going for it which is very difficult to jam given its multi-band, low amplitude spectrum....and the fact it can act as PESA at any time should the need arise. I believe the PAF doctrine would focus more on using its air assets to counter intruder AWACS (which would be more likely to be the embraer platforms) and rather target the strategic ones with AWACs killing missiles when the opportunity presents itself (with a lot of finger crossing involved).
How the situation evolves with the years to come as more technologies come online (Ga-N vs Ga-As adoption, particular module upgrades NATO does for the E-3 which I am following closely and also how HARM seekers improve) remains to be seen. It will be a cat and mouse game like anything else.
Excellent. These were the points I expected someone to finally bring up when I quoted 400 km as the range.
Firstly its a range to horizon at maximum service ceiling. This is the maximum feasible pick up range (and you have to remember that an aircraft endurance sweet zone is not at its service ceiling....but thats another discussion for another time since we are talking maximum potential capability here).
Its effective range for ground hugging cruise missile tracking will of course be some fraction of this 400km...which is unknown and will probably remain so (it is dependent on the algorithm quality esp SNR processing channels). But I would imagine the Israelis have developed some pretty potent ones that the DRDO and others would have optimised for Indian conditions/use.
I would also imagine all clutter/noise/weather effects will be tested extensively in peace time against real low flying bogies and refine the algorithms as needed. It will definitely not be a "first time" experience for the AWAC operators during a potential conflict.
Actually thats a wrong assertion. You should read up more on even legacy performance of AWAC systems against cruise missiles (even in ground hugging mode). With an AESA radar, operating in tandem with other AESA radars.....it would require a very stealthy missile to stand even a chance because of ISAR effects from its velocity. I will have to dig up some papers later for you to get what I mean here.
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