Prying plane makes a quiet touchdown at Bangalore

By Anantha Krishnan M
Express News Service

Bangalore: The Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) system, India’s most-awaited eye-in-the-sky aircraft, touched down at HAL airport on Wednesday night. On its arrival, the prying plane built on a modified Embraer platform (EMB-145I), was given a water canon welcome. Over 200 people, including scientists, engineers and technicians were present at the airport when the plane landed close to midnight.

Military sources tell Express that the aircraft flew through three continents over last the five days. On its arrival in Bangalore, it was officially received by the AEW&C development and user teams led Centre for Air Borne Systems (CABS) director S Christopher.

The aircraft was piloted by a flight crew consisting of two pilots, each from Embraer and the Indian Air force (IAF), along with one technician from Embraer. As reported by Express earlier, the aircraft left Embraer’s headquarters in São José dos Campos, Brazil, on August 17. “Before leaving Brazil, the acceptance of the aircraft was completed over a period of 15 days at the Embraer facilities by a team of officials from India,” sources said.

Before landing in Bangalore, the EMB-145I had its last refueling at Ahmedabad on Wednesday. “We tracked every moment of its flight including at Casablanca, Alexandria and Dubai. It is a big day for military aviation scientists,” sources said.

The aircraft was ferried from Brazil with several mission system external components being built by the Defence Research and Development Organisation, including the Active Electronically-Scanned Array (AESA) antenna with passive electronics fitted on to the platform.

The focus now shifts to the integration of the DRDO-developed mission systems on to the platform, which will be followed by development flight trials in India beginning of 2013. The next aircraft is expected to arrive in December 2012.

Post-midnight, the yet-to-be-named aircraft was undergoing a series of emigration and customs clearances at HAL airport. “We have taken the plane into our hangar and the entire area is now cordoned off,” sources said. The security around HAL airport and CABS facility was high all through Wednesday, ahead of the EMB-145I’s historical landing in Bangalore.

(Copyright@The New Indian Express)

Breaking on Tarmak007: EMB-145 lands in Bangalore

The Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) system, India’s most-awaited eye-in-the-sky platform, touched down at HAL airport on Wednesday night. On its arrival, the prying plane built on a modified Embraer platform (EMB-145I), was given a water canon welcome.

(Detailed report in The New Indian Express later) 

Eye-in-the-sky likely to touchdown in Bangalore next week | AEW&C will be a force-multiplier to IAF: Major

By Anantha Krishnan M

Express News Service

Bangalore: India took custody of the first Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft (EMB-145I) at Embraer’s headquarters in São José dos Campos, Brazil. Built on a modified Embraer, the yet-to-be-named AEW&C aircraft was handed over by the Embraer Defence and Security officials to senior scientists from the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

Military sources told Express that the AEW&C was expected to leave Brazil on August 18 and reach HAL airport next week. The focus will now shift to Bangalore-based Centre for Airborne Systems (CABS), which will equip the eye-in-the-sky-platform with mission systems. Embraer says the delivery follows successful completion of ground and flight tests of the aircraft which met operational targets.

Embraer termed the project as a new chapter in Indo-Brazil ties, cementing the way for more future complex programmes. “We are very proud to meet the expectations of our clients in providing CABS and DRDO with this platform,” Luiz Carlos Aguiar, President, Embraer Defense and Security, said. “The EMB-145I features an in-flight refueling system and upgraded electric cooling equipment. The comprehensive set of structural changes in the aircraft will enable easy installation of advanced mission systems developed by CABS,” G Elangovan, Chief Controller, DRDO, said.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) will receive three EMB-145Is as per the 2008 pact India inked with Brazil. The total cost of the project is now put at Rs 2,157 crore, after incorporating all additional requirements of the IAF. “CABS would require over six months to prove its mission systems on EMB-145I after which the IAF would officially induct the platform,” sources said. The fully-loaded EMB-145I would begin test-flying in Bangalore in October/November this year. 

 The ability of EMB-145I to detect, identify and classify threats present in the surveillance areas and act as a command and control centre to support air operations is expected to add teeth to IAF's network-centric warfare capabilities. Former Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal (retd) F H Major said that the EMB-145I will be a tremendous force-multiplier to the IAF. “It will augment the entire air defence surveillance system of the country and and also aid long-distance monitoring,” Major told Express from Delhi.

As reported by Express earlier, the EMB-145I could track aircraft, UAVs and even detect radar signals. It can scan up to 400 km, giving the IAF recognised air situations thereby enabling battlefield management. The aircraft can operate with a maximum crew of 12 people, including operators, rest crew, pilot, co-pilot and flight test engineer. It can fly non-stop for 10-12 hours with mid-air refueling.

Copyright@The New Indian Express

Embraer delivers first EMB-145I to India

Embraer delivered the first EMB-145-I Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C)  aircraft to India in São José dos Campos, Brazil, yesterday. Sources say that the aircraft will now reach an IAF base in India first, and then to the Centre for Airborne Systems (CABS) in Bangalore. A detailed report in The New Indian Express tomorrow. (Search EMB-145 on the blog for earlier reports)

Prying plane co-piloted by ASTE CTP Gp Capt Tiwari

(L to R) Col. DK Singh, Defence Attache India, Brazil, Dr K Tamilmani, CE, CEMILAC, Dr S Christopher, PGD (AEW&C) & Director CABS, Srinivas, Consul General of India, Brazil, G Elangovan, CC (R&D) (Avionics) and R G Viswanathan, Addl. FA(R&D), DRDO soon after EMB-145I touched down after the maiden flight on December 6. Photo: Special Arrangement

By Anantha Krishnan M

Express News Service

Bangalore: India's dream of having a plane embedded with home-grown prying technologies inched closer to reality when the modified Embraer-built Airborne Early Warning and Control System (AEW&CS) platform lifted off on its maiden flight from the Sao Jose dos Campos flight test facilities in Brazil on December 6 (IST 7.30 pm). As reported in these columns recently, the systems for the EMB-145I aircraft is being developed by Bangalore-based Centre for Air Borne Systems (CABS), a Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) facility.

The first aircraft will arrive in Bangalore early June for CABS' integration and flight trials will be executed by Test pilots from the Indian Air Force's (IAF) Aircraft Systems Testing Establishment (ASTE). “The first flight concludes another important phase in this programme and starts the flight test campaign. We are moving towards the delivery of the first aircraft during the first half 2012,” says Eduardo Bonini Santos Pinto, Senior Vice-President (Operations), Embraer Defense and Security.

Once operational, the EMB-145I will finally fly with close to 1000 Mission System Components provided by CABS, including the critical item – AESA (Active Electronic Scanning Antenna as can be seen on top of the aircraft) Radar Antenna developed  by  CABS and certified from ANAC, International FAR Certification  Agency.

DROD chief Dr V K Saraswat said that years of constant interaction between experts from the IAF, DRDO and Embraer coupled have finally shown the desired results. “We had an unfortunate experience in the past and we have put all that behind and concentrated on new technologies on a proven platform for meeting the requirements of the IAF. It will be a different experience when the aircraft starts flight trials with our own systems onboard in Bangalore,” Saraswat said.

The aircraft was piloted by Embraer pilot and co-piloted by Gp Capt N Tiwari, Chief Test Pilot, ASTE. “The aircraft took off smoothly and and flew for more than an hour without any hiccups and followed the simulated prediction closely. This critical milestone will put India in the elite class of countries who have developed similar systems,” G Elangovan, DRDO Chief Controller (Avionics) told Express from Brazil.

An elated CABS Director Dr S Christopher, said that the maiden flight is the result of close cooperation between India and Brazil. “This cooperation between the BRIC (Brazil Russia, India and China) countries should make way for fulfilling other international requirements through mutual collaboration,” Christopher told said.

Col D K Singh, Defence Attache India, Brazil, Dr K Tamilmani, Chief Executive CEMILAC, Srinivas, Consul General of India, Brazil and R G Viswanathan, Additional Financial Advisor (DRDO) were part of the Indian delegation who witnessed the maiden flight.

The EMB-145I is a member of Embraer’s Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) family of aircraft and systems, built based on ERJ 145, one of the most successful regional jet platforms in the world, with more than 1,100 units delivered and 1918 million hours flown.

(Copyright@The New Indian Express) 


Strongly Recommended 
1. http://tarmak007.blogspot.com/2011/12/breaking-on-tarmak007-indias-prying.html
2. http://tarmak007.blogspot.com/2011/11/indias-prying-plane-set-to-fly-in.html
3. http://tarmak007.blogspot.com/2011/11/tech-treat-awaits-iaf-emb-145i-to-ward.html
4. http://tarmak007.blogspot.com/2011/11/name-indias-eye-in-sky-and-win-fabulous.html (So far, Tarmak007 has received over 160 names for EMB-145I.) 

Breaking on Tarmak007: India’s prying plane hits the skies; all planned tests met: Embraer

 The first of three EMB 145I Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft platforms, ordered by the Indian government for IAF, had its successful ‘official’ maiden flight at Embraer’s headquarters, in São José do Campos, today. The flight is said to have performed all planned tests successfully. Stand-by for a detailed report in Express tomorrow.
Recommended 
1. http://tarmak007.blogspot.com/2011/11/indias-prying-plane-set-to-fly-in.html
2. http://tarmak007.blogspot.com/2011/11/tech-treat-awaits-iaf-emb-145i-to-ward.html
3. http://tarmak007.blogspot.com/2011/11/name-indias-eye-in-sky-and-win-fabulous.html (So far, Tarmak007 has received close to 150 names for EMB-145I.) 

Tech treat awaits IAF; EMB-145I to ward-off conflicts in the region

By Anantha Krishnan M

Express News Service

Bangalore: India's foray into developing a homegrown Airborne Early Warning Control System (AEW CS), being built on a modified Embraer aircraft (EMB145 I), is seen as an ideal opportunity to ward off conflicts.

The Centre for Air Borne Systems (CABS), a Defence Research and Development Organisation lab in Bangalore, has made inroads into the indigenous development of systems for a compact AEW CS, which would complement the IL76 AWACS, currently being operated by the Indian Air Force (IAF).

"The EMB145 I will add more teeth to us (IAF) with our network-centric warfare operations warding off any potential conflicts. Hence, all our assets will now get a new dimension and their operations a new meaning - be it on the ground or while flying," sources told The New Indian Express.

With the maiden flight of EMB145 I scheduled in Brazil on December 7, Embraer is ensuring stringent safety tests.  One of such tests is to put aircraft in steep drive or in a stall condition. Putting in stall condition means to reduce the aircraft speed to such an extent that the aircraft will no more sustain the flying and will start falling down. “When the aircraft starts falling due to any reason, then it falls rapidly owing to the earth’s gravity. Hence during the stall and spin tests, the test pilots then will have to respond fast and reverse the stall process to recover the aircraft flight,” sources said.

Hence in order to slow down the diving of the aircraft due to stall or spin during the testing, the modern aircrafts are tested with parachutes. These parachutes are deployed when the aircraft enters into steep dive, which then slows down the dive process, giving the pilots adequate time to increase the throttle, bring the aircraft out of the dangerous dive process.

Tech marvel: Once operational, the EMB-145 I will be a multi-sensor system providing for all aspects of air-borne surveillance. Here is a quick glance at some of the features:

1. ·   The primary radar (PR) detects, tracks and identifies targets, the other sensors carry out different functions.
2. ·       The secondary surveillance radar (SSR) helps identify the target as friend or foe. The electronics support measures (ESM) provides the bearing and location of hostile emitters and analyses their characteristics.The communication support measures (CSM) intercepts communication signals and scrutinizes them.
3. ·    The mission communications system (MCS) provides air-to-air and air-to-ground V/UHF voice and data channels.
4. ·   The self protection system (SPS) warns of enemy radars as well as approaching missiles and offers countermeasures.
5. ·       The data handling and display system (DHDS) facilitates total interfacing with the AEW&CS  and deriving operational information.
6. ·    The Line-of-Sight ‘C’-Band and SATCOM  Ku-Band data links (DL) help inter-operate with friendly fighters, other AEW&C aircraft and air-defence systems on the ground.
7. ·      The mission system controller (MSC), the heart of the AEW&CS, integrates data from all the sensors and facilitates the surveillance operations. 

In In addition to CABS, the AEW&CS programme is pursued by a core team comprising various DRDO laboratories, including Electronics and Radar Development Establishment (LRDE),  Defence Avionics Research Establishment (DARE), Defence Electronics Research Laboratory (DLRL) and Defence Electronics Applications Laboratory (DEAL) with close participation of Indian air force (IAF), Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification (CEMILAC) and Directorate General of Aeronautical Quality Assurance (DGAQA). Embraer, ANAC (the Airworthiness Certification Agency of Brazil) and a number of original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) for the aircraft are linked to the programme.

Copyright@The New Indian Express 

NAME INDIA'S EYE-IN-THE-SKY

While chasing the EMB-145 I story (post here), the blogger was informed by IAF sources that they have asked the DRDO to name the platform before it enters the Indian airspace next June. Tarmak007 invites its members and visitors to name the aircraft keeping in mind the role the tech beast would play, once operational. It has to be an Indian name and if your suggestion(s)  is selected finally, you will receive some books in the form of prizes from the blogger. Email the names with your full address and telephone number to anantha.ak@gmail.com. Tarmak007 will forward the names to IAF/DRDO. (In the last two days, the blogger has received 65 names.)

Your turn now! Name India's eye-in-the-sky

While chasing the EMB-145 I story (below post), the blogger was informed by IAF sources that they have asked the DRDO to name the platform before it enters the Indian airspace next June. Tarmak007 invites its members and visitors to name the aircraft keeping in mind the role the tech beast would play, once operational. It has to be an Indian name and if your suggestion(s)  is selected finally, you will receive some books in the form of prizes from the blogger. Email the names with your full address and telephone number to anantha.ak@gmail.com. Tarmak007 will forward the names to IAF/DRDO. 

EMB-145 I: India's prying plane's first flight likely on Dec 7 in Brazil

By Anantha Krishnan M
Express News Service

Bangalore: India's prying plane is ready. Called the Airborne Early Warning & Control System (AEW&CS), this tech beast comes in the form of a modified Embraer aircraft (EMB-145 I). Sources confirm to The New Indian Express that the first flight is officially scheduled on December 7 in Brazil. The Centre for Air Borne Systems (CABS), a Bangalore-based less-talked-about wing of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), is developing systems to make the EMB-145 I a mean machine.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) will receive three such platforms in the next three years. The integration on ground-based systems on the lines of specifications, including the seating arrangements, is currently on at CABS. The first aircraft will make a touchdown in Bangalore coming June, with the second and third expected in October 2012 and December 2013 respectively.  “They (CABS) will need at least six months to integrate the sub-systems (total seven), after the first EMB-145 Iarrives,” sources said.

Once operational, India will join an exclusive club of nations owning home-grown eye in the sky systems. Currently, Wedge Tail (USA-Boeing), Phalcon (Israel-IAI) and Erieye (Sweden-Ericsson) are world leaders in prying-from-the-top-technology. India had inked a pact with Brazil in 2008 to modify the Embraer so as to integrate the Active Array Antenna Unit (AAAU) on the aircraft's fuselage. The platform could detect, identify and classify threats present in the surveillance areas and act as a command and control centre to support air operations. The project comes with an updated price tag of (to include new features for the IAF) of Rs 2,157 crore.

In an extremely crisp response to an Express email query, CABS Director S Christopher could only confirm that an Indian delegation is traveling to Brazil in the first week of June. When this paper spoke to G. Elangovan, DRDO's Chief Controller (Avionics) in Delhi, he said that the EMB-145 I will be a very cost-effective and cheapest platform, carrying mission systems, radar, communication units and electronic warfare systems.

The EMB-145 I will boost India’s network-centric warfare capabilities. Apart from surveillance duties, it could track aircraft, UAVS and even detect radar signals. It has the ability to scan up to 400 km, giving the IAF recognized air situations thereby enabling battle field management. The aircraft can operate with a maximum crew of 12 people, including operators, rest crew, pilot, co-pilot and flight test engineer. It can fly non-stop for 10-12 hours with mid-air-refueling. 

DRDO's earlier attempt to make a surveillance platform (Project Guardian/Airawat) met with disaster when the HS-748 turboprop test-bed aircraft crashed in 1999, killing several scientists and engineers.

(Copyright@The New Indian Express. The above report appeared in Express on Nov 19.)

NAME THE PLANE NOW!