India's Phalcon AEW&C and AWACS on the Russian built IL-76 transport platform.
First posted Sunday, May 17, 2009
The IAI EL/M-2075 Phalcon
is an Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) radar system developed by
Israeli Aircraft Industries (IAI) and Elta Electronics Industries of Israel.
Its main objective is to provide intelligence to maintain air superiority and
conduct surveillance including a means to track incoming missiles and look deep
into neighbouring countries without violating their air space.
Phalcon provides 360 degree
coverage. This allows it to track high maneuvering targets and low flying
objects from hundreds of kilometers away, under all weather conditions, in both
day and night.
Sale to India
Sale to India
- In March 2004, Israel and
India signed a US$1.1 billion deal - according to which IAI would deliver the
Indian Air Force three Phalcon AEW&C radar systems.
- India signed a separate deal with Russia's Ilyushin Corporation to supply the three Il-76 A-50s airframes for an additional US $500 million.
- In November 2007, Indian defense officials said that there were significant delays in the supply of the Il-76 airframes postponing the induction of the radar to 2009-10.
- In June 2008, media reports suggested that India and Israel were about to sign a deal for three additional Phalcon radars (carried by Il-76s].
- India is due to get its first Il-76 mounted AWACS system on May 18th 2009 with another two to follow sometime in 2010. It will probably be based in Agra. India does need the two other AWACS which, if things go as planned, will be flying in Indian airspace by 2011.
- all three Phalcons will be networked to a dedicated Military Satellite due to be deployed by mid 2010. The new satellite is intended to relay the pictures to the IAF's Integrated Air Command and Control System and then uplink to the Phalcons and other platforms for further survillance, cordination and attack if need be.
- India signed a separate deal with Russia's Ilyushin Corporation to supply the three Il-76 A-50s airframes for an additional US $500 million.
- In November 2007, Indian defense officials said that there were significant delays in the supply of the Il-76 airframes postponing the induction of the radar to 2009-10.
- In June 2008, media reports suggested that India and Israel were about to sign a deal for three additional Phalcon radars (carried by Il-76s].
- India is due to get its first Il-76 mounted AWACS system on May 18th 2009 with another two to follow sometime in 2010. It will probably be based in Agra. India does need the two other AWACS which, if things go as planned, will be flying in Indian airspace by 2011.
- all three Phalcons will be networked to a dedicated Military Satellite due to be deployed by mid 2010. The new satellite is intended to relay the pictures to the IAF's Integrated Air Command and Control System and then uplink to the Phalcons and other platforms for further survillance, cordination and attack if need be.
Phalcon has already been
fitted to aircraft for three countries:
- Israel 3 using Gulfstream G550 Eitam as its platform
- Chile with the 707, and
- India wit 3 on Ilyushin Il-76 almost ready, perhaps 3 more on order
- Israel 3 using Gulfstream G550 Eitam as its platform
- Chile with the 707, and
- India wit 3 on Ilyushin Il-76 almost ready, perhaps 3 more on order
Singapore has 4 Gulfstream
G550 on order.
System - The Phalcon uses the Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) an active phased array radar. This radar consists of an array transmit/receive (T/R) modules that allows a beam to be electronically shifted, hence making mechanical rotation (seen in rotadomes) unnecessary. AESA radars have very short to instantaneous scanning rates, which makes them difficult to detect (ie "stealthy"). Because they are redirected electronically AESAs can come in many shapes (mounted on the an aircraft's fuselage (in the belly, nose, tail or sides) or on the top inside a small fixed dome) rather than being restricted to a circular rotational mount. Phalcon has a target acquisition capability close to 250km.
System - The Phalcon uses the Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) an active phased array radar. This radar consists of an array transmit/receive (T/R) modules that allows a beam to be electronically shifted, hence making mechanical rotation (seen in rotadomes) unnecessary. AESA radars have very short to instantaneous scanning rates, which makes them difficult to detect (ie "stealthy"). Because they are redirected electronically AESAs can come in many shapes (mounted on the an aircraft's fuselage (in the belly, nose, tail or sides) or on the top inside a small fixed dome) rather than being restricted to a circular rotational mount. Phalcon has a target acquisition capability close to 250km.
Note that the NATO E-3 AWACs
and Russian Mainstay have rotating radomes for their pulse doppler radars. In
the case of India's Phalcon Il-76 it has a three faced fixed AESA array, hence
the radome itself doesn't rotate. The radome is retained for its aerodynamic
design.
Information has come fon
one network use by India "[the IL-76 mounted Phalcon] is primarily
destined in a super-tactical/ operational role. This is because (and I wonder
why most people forget this), the Su-30 [see Su-30 Avionics
reference] itself plays the role of a mini-AWACS.
The grid, therefore, is
something like this. Imagine a concentric circle. At the center of the circle,
you have the IL-76 AWACS, at the periphery, you have not more than 3 SU-30s in
an AWACS role. These SU-30's provide the tactical early warning, which is
relayed to the IL-76, which then combines the data with its long-range sensors
and pushes the data out to the air-defence squadron."
Platforms - Phalcon can probably be
fitted to most mid to large passenger style jets, including the Boeing range, Il-76,
Gulfstream G550, presumably the Airbus range and Nimrods etc. Under a contract
signed with Chile in 1989, the first Phalcon system to be installed was fitted
to a former LanChile Boeing 707, and was first flown in 1993. In May 1994 the
aircraft was delivered to the Chilean Air Force, where it is known as the
Condor.
Operational history - The Israeli Air Force has purchased 3 Gulfstream G550 aircraft to serve as the new IDF platform for the Phalcon system. The system is called Eitam. Extensive modifications made to the Gulfstream's fuselage, such as the addition of protruding composite radomes, are intended to allow for the housing of the radar arrays. In 2007, 4 similar G550-Phalcon aircraft were also purchased by the Republic of Singapore Air Force, to eventually replace its ageing E-2C Hawkeyes. All 4 G550s are expected to be in-service by 2010.
China's purchase of the Phalcon system (to be fitted to Il-76s) in 2000 was blocked at a late stage due to pressure from the United States on Israel not to complete delivery to China. The US would have argued that many of Phalcon's component technologies were originally of US origin and could not be cleared for export to China.
Operational history - The Israeli Air Force has purchased 3 Gulfstream G550 aircraft to serve as the new IDF platform for the Phalcon system. The system is called Eitam. Extensive modifications made to the Gulfstream's fuselage, such as the addition of protruding composite radomes, are intended to allow for the housing of the radar arrays. In 2007, 4 similar G550-Phalcon aircraft were also purchased by the Republic of Singapore Air Force, to eventually replace its ageing E-2C Hawkeyes. All 4 G550s are expected to be in-service by 2010.
China's purchase of the Phalcon system (to be fitted to Il-76s) in 2000 was blocked at a late stage due to pressure from the United States on Israel not to complete delivery to China. The US would have argued that many of Phalcon's component technologies were originally of US origin and could not be cleared for export to China.
While China did not receive
Phalcon Chinese technicians would have already thoroughly examined the Phalcon
system during the evaluation and partial purchase phases. China would therefore
know a great deal about Phalcon technology and network operations. Perhaps this
examination assisted China to rapidly develop the KongJing-2000
Airborne Warning & Control System instead. This also uses the Il-76
as its platform.
India's strategy of
shopping around between the Western and Russian blocs has clearly payed
dividends - in the aviation area - though less so in the naval arena (Gorshkov,
Akulas etc).
Pete
----------------------------
Comment
Phased array radars can come in many shapes because
they are redirected electronically rather than driven around a standard field
(like a pulse doppler radar)mechanically.
Note that the NATO E-3 AWACs and Russian Mainstay have
rotating radomes for their pulse dopplers.
In the case of Phalcon Il-76 and China's KongJing-2000
the phased array radars are steerable within the radome (a convenient
aerodynamic shape) but the radome itself doesn't rotate.
On Boeing 737 instead of the proven Gulfstream G550?
I'd say the weight of the MESA radar-electonics suite
for Wedgetail aka Boeing 737 AEW&C
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_737_AEW%26C was too great for the G550 to
lift. The Boeing 737 AEW&C is almost 3 times heavier.
Also more work stations in the 737 would be needed to
get maximum benefit out of the radar.
Also Boeing wants to stay in military
"airliner" busines, post 707 so would have put heavy pressure on the
US Government, Australia and the radar builder (Northrop Grumman) to campaign
for a 737 solution.
I'll put your orbital coverage diagram on the RISAT-2
post.
I meant the Phalcon Gulfstream 550 solution would be
cheaper than the B-737 Wedgetail. As you point out, the American solution is
aimed at selling the airliner, and is therefore, much more expensive. The
Phalcon solution appears to be cheaper and is a proven package. The Wedgetail
B-737 solution hasn't been deployed yet from what I can tell, so it's unproven.
I must be an abberation. I believe in the best solution, not necessarily the
solution that makes a company the most money which may be the American
definition of what a "best" solution is.
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Yes the Wedgetail 737 AEW&C project may bring one
of the four 737 on order up to a 90% capability ceiling in 2010 and the minimum
3 units (to form a working network by) 2012. Still only 90% of projected
capability.
90% capability may well equate to what Phalcon can do.
So if we'd ordered Phalcon we may well have had four
Phalcon 737's becoming operational this year.
Meanwhile Australia appears to be about to order 50 to
100 untested F-35s. Australia's ANZUS Treaty relations with the US often makes
us an early, guinea pig customer, extending credit to US arms giants many years
ahead of postponed delivery. Taxpayers money is constantly offered easily and
too early.
"Tried and tested" and "off the
shelf" is rarely in the vocabulary of our air force officers, defence
aquisitions people or politicians bedazzled by Washington.
The one good acquisition lately has been Australia's
purchase of 24 Super Hornets. Twelve of which may come out as EW
"Growlers" (F/A-18G) something India should also consider in any
airstrikes on Pakistan.
Well then...India's Phalcon is set to arrive next
week...details at this link:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/India-to-acquire-first-AWACS-next-week-Officials-/articleshow/4510543.cms
Apparently will be based in Agra., Has a range of
800kms with a target acquisition capability close to 250. India does need the
two other AWACS which, if things go as planned, will be flying in Indian
airspace by 2011.