Next week, the government is all set for the acquisition of two Phalcon Airborne Warning and Control Systems (AWACS). India had three Phalcon AWACS with a 360-degree rotodome and two DRDO-built AWACS with a 240-degree rotodome mounted on the top of the aircraft.

The government is tight-lipped about the entire process of the acquisition and last week, the proposal was put in front of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) but, it was sent back to National Security Adviser Ajit Dovaland for some clarifications. After the clarification, it has been sent back to the CCS for the final approval of the proposal.

The Phalcon Radar is going to cost around $1 billion with an additional $1 billion for purchasing its platform and both the radar and the platform will be integrated in Israel and the delivery of the complete system would take around two to three years.

During the Pakistani Aerial Dogfight, the need for one more AWACS was felt, when Pakistan was using two Swedish AWACS round the clock for detecting and repelling any intrusion into its air space and then, at that vulnerable time the IAF was limited to its resources. Apart from Phalcon, the government has also decided for the construction of better road connectivity along different sectors.