DRDO-built radar tech to power IAF’s Airbus C-295

Source : The Times of India

Airbus C-295 tactical transport aircraft purchased by Indian Air Force for its transport requirements

Airbus, Spain, will procure two advanced radar systems — Radar Warning Receiver (RWR) and Missile Approach Warning Systems (MAWS) — developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), which would be incorporated into the 56 Airbus C295 aircraft ordered by the Indian Air Force (IAF).

This is the first “Make in India” aerospace programme in the private sector, involving the full development of a complete industrial ecosystem — from manufacture, assembly, test, and qualification to delivery and maintenance, in the complete lifecycle of the aircraft.

Airbus will acquire the RWR and MAWS from Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL). This was disclosed during a presentation that the DRDO made at IIT, Delhi, at the 5th World Congress on Disaster Management. DRDO’s Ultra Violet-based Missile Approach Warning Systems (UVMAWS) is a passive missile warning system, which detects incoming missile attacks and warns pilots for initiating countermeasures. It is a small-sized highperformance system with low power consumption and low weight, suitable for helicopters and transport aircraft.16 aircraft to be delivered over four years

The state-of-the-art RWR system is capable of intercepting radio emissions of radar systems periodically by scanning across frequency bands, DRDO said on its social media platforms. In September, India formalized the acquisition of 56 Airbus C295 aircraft to replace IAF’s legacy AVRO fleet.

“Under the contractual agreement, Airbus will deliver the first 16 aircraft in ‘flyaway’ condition from its final assembly line in Seville, Spain. The subsequent 40 aircraft will be manufactured and assembled by Tata Advanced Systems in India, as part of an industrial partnership between the two companies,” Airbus, Spain, said on its website.The first 16 aircraft will be delivered over four years after the contract implementation. All the IAF C295s will be handed over in transport configuration.

“This contract will support the development of India’s aerospace ecosystem, bringing investment and 15,000 skilled direct jobs and 10,000 indirect positions over the coming 10 years,” Michael Schoellhorn, CEO of Airbus Defence and Space, said.