Indian EMB 145 AEW&C takes 1st flight
The first EMB 145 Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) to be built for the Indian government completed its maiden flight on 6 December 2011. Embraer said that the flight, undertaken at Embraer’s headquarters, in São José do Campos, was well performed and all planned tests were successfully achieved.
Three EMB 145 AEW&C aircraft are being built for the Indian government. According to Embraer, the programme can now move into its next phase ahead of delivery, which is scheduled to begin during the first half of 2012.
Based on the proven Embraer ERJ 145 regional jet, the aircraft features an in-flight refueling system, SATCOM capability, a significant increase in electrical and cooling capacities, and a comprehensive set of aerodynamic and structural changes. These improvements will allow the installation of the advanced electronic systems currently being developed by India’s Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) under with CABS (Centre for Airborne Systems) coordination as the nodal agency.
The EMB 145 AEW&C provides a flexible, reliable and affordable aircraft for ISR missions, with a perfect blend of effectiveness and economics. Its primary mission is to detect, track and identify targets in its patrol area and transmit this information to friendly forces, in order to provide them with an accurate and comprehensive operational picture for missions including airspace management, fighter positioning and intercept control, signals intelligence, and surveillance of seas, borders, and Exclusive Economic Zones.
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