DRDO AWACS First Batch Delivery by 2015; Embraer EMB 145 May Not be Base Platform for Second Batch

(By India Defense) Dr. Prahlada, Chief Controller of Research and Development, DRDO has confirmed, according to newspaper reports, that DRDO developed AWACS integrated on Brazilian Embraer EMB 145 aircrafts will be tested by the end of 2011 and a probable delivery date for the first batch of three is 2015.

Notes from his statements:

• India is in the process of developing nine home-grown, state-of-the-art versions and the first of them is expected to be flight-tested by the end of next year.
• Five frontline laboratories of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) are working to develop the system which would be "85 per cent indigenous"
• Three will be integrated on board the Brazilian Embraer EMB 145 jet and delivered by 2014-15
• The base aircraft for the remaining six AWACS is undecide