India to order two Phalcon AWACS
As military tensions with China in eastern Ladakh show no sign of easing, India is looking to accelerate its long-delayed acquisition of two Phalcon ELW-2090 airborne early warning (AEW) aircraft for the Indian Air Force (IAF) from Elta. They are to be mounted on currently Russian-owned Il-76 transport aircraft.
These assets will add to India’s under-equipped inventory of three A-50EI Phalcon systems, whose radar have a 400km range and 360º coverage. India is believed to have identified two tail numbers of final-production Il-76s with the least flying hours, Shephard learned.
Russia will fit the domes, and Israel will install the
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