New Delhi: Indian defence scientists have come one more step closer to develop indigenous AEW&C systems with the handing over of the Brazilian Embraer-145I aircraft to Centre for Airborne Systems (CABS) of DRDO. Now the aircraft will be integrated with the AESA radar and mission systems in India.

A DRDO spokesperson said that the EMB-145I aircraft designed and developed for AEW&C role has been delivered to Centre for Airborne Systems (CABS) of Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) by M/s Embraer for ferry to India.

One of the major achievements of CABS is the design, development and testing of 10m x 1m x 0.5 m Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) weighing 1600 kg. The structural AESA with dummy electronics is certified for airworthiness by the Brazilian certification agency, ANAC, equivalent of FAA in USA. The aircraft is fitted with AESA and the airworthy units from other work centers of DRDO have been flight tested prior to ferry to India.
 
The aircraft after its arrival in India later this month will be integrated with Mission Systems Avionics and will commence the developmental trials of Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) System for IAF, after successful Ground Evaluation clearances by DGAQA and CEMILAC.

With ownership of the aircraft transferred to DRDO, the aircraft has been flagged off by the Indian Delegation comprising of Mr G Elangovan, DS & CC R&D (Avionics & Aero), Dr K Tamilmani, DS & CE, CEMILAC, Dr S Christopher, DS, Programme Director (AEW&C) & Director, CABS, Mr MS Easwaran, Associate Programme Director (AEW&C), Air Cmde B Banerjee, PD (AFPT), Air Cmde Rippon Gupta, PD, C4ISR at M/s Embraer, Sao Jose dos Compos, Brazil.  The Factory Acceptance Test including Ground and Flight tests have been successfully completed and met operational targets set by CABS and Embraer.