gambit
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The main point of having an AWACS platform is about early detection and 'early' equals to distance. Keep in mind that radar detection is about detecting a target as far away from you as possible, and that applies to civilian usage of radar as well. A busy civilian airport would benefit from early detection of inbounds as it would help controllers better scheduling take-offs and landings. For the military, early detection equals to keeping the enemy or potential enemy and his weapons from you and your valuables as long as possible. Military controllers would do the opposite of their civilian counterparts, vector defending forces towards (hostile) inbounds instead of guiding the inbounds in.Arsalan,
what's the point of buying an AEW&C/AWACS if your planes are not data-linked to it?
In the early days of AWACS operations, it was with voice commands, not through data linking, although some rudimentary data transmissions did occurred, that AWACS controllers send in defending forces. Data links along with voice commands adds complexity, technical and operational, that can degrade an air force if the capability is not properly exploited through training -- extensive training -- that require flight hours and aviation fuel, for both the AWACS and everyone else that have a need for what the AWACS has to offer. Data links is the proverbial gravy, not the meat, of an AWACS platform. If the Pakistani Air Force cannot afford such training for this level of an AWACS, then do not spend the money. Train as best as possible with voice commands like how the US military did.