India trying Embraer for AWACS

India's Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) and Brazilian aircraft maker Embraer have signed a memorandum of understanding to develop an airborne early warning and control system (AEWC) for India, using the Embraer 145 aircraft as the platform.

The MoU could result in India buying three of the aircraft to build AEWCs, the Brazilian firm said here at the Aero India 2005 show. The Centre for Air-Borne Systems (CABS), a DRDO lab based in Bangalore, held discussions with Embraer and was collecting technical data.

"The analysis is expected to result in an initial contract for three Embraer 145 AEWC aircraft and technical support during the development effort," Embraer said.

The company will also be involved in some engineering work, Embraer's executive vice president for defence market, Romualdo Barros said.

CABS has revived its airborne early warning system programme it had scrapped after a 1999 crash of a rotodome radar-fitted Avro aircraft near Arakkonam in Chennai.

It will integrate in the aircraft phased array radars in the current Rs 1,800-crore programme, which the cabinet committee of security sanctioned last year. Embraer could also sell five aircraft to India for VIP transport, company officials said.