India may procure two more AWACS

(IANS) India may procure two more Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft.
Defence Minister A.K. Antony stated this in the Lok Sabha Monday in response to a question from a member who wanted to know if the government had decided to beef up air defence.
Antony said the long-term integrated perspective plan of his ministry envisaged deployment of a mix of large AWACS aircraft and small Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) system aircraft.
"While three AWACS already stand operationalized in the Indian Air Force, there is a proposal for procurement of two additional AWACS," he said.
Simultaneously, he added, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) was engaged in indigenous development of three AWE&C systems.
The minister said the development of AWACS (India) "is envisaged to be completed in about 84 months from the date of formal sanction".

: Newstrackindia