Indian Air Force (IAF) tonight signed a nearly Rs 8,000-crore deal with state-run Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) for the extension of its programmes integrating all civil and defence radars across the country.
The IAF has already established five nodes of the IACCS (Integrated Air Command and Control System) in the Western Sector, bordering Pakistan.
Under the proposed expansion phase, four new nodes and ten sub-nodes will come up. While three nodes will be in Eastern, Central and Southern India, the fourth will be for the strategically important Andaman and Nicobar Island.
On September 22, the Cabinet Committee on Security had cleared the proposal for the Rs 8,000-crore project, which was sanctioned by the Defence Acquisition Council in November last.
Once the system is in place, the air headquarters will get a composite air situation picture since it will be integrating Air Force, Army, Naval and civilian radars.
