Phalcon Vs Erieye, Can we have a comparison??? Options

[GoldenEagle]

EMB-145 SA
Merging Embraer’s successful ERJ-145 regional aircraft platform with the Ericsson Erieye AEW Radar and Command and Control System, the EMB-145 SA (Surveillance Aircraft) also relies on a number of other sensors that give it multi-role capability. Besides AEW&C tasks the EMB-145 SA can also execute missions such as border surveillance and control, sea surveillance, search and rescue coordination, airspace management and signals/communications intelligence. The aircraft will be capable of integrating data in real-time with ground stations and other airborne elements. The EMB-145 AEW&C incorporates a reinforced airframe, new navigation and communication systems, an enhanced APU, increased fuel capacity and revised interior layout. The endurance in typical missions in the Amazon shall be in excess of 8 hours.


Performing its maiden flight on 22 May 1999, the EMB-145 SA Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) aircraft is configured to comply with the SIVAM Project requirements. With five units ordered by the Brazilian Government’s SIVAM (Amazon Surveillance System) Project and basis for the EMB-145 AEW&C aircraft selected by the Hellenic Air Force to fulfill its AEW&C requirements, the EMB-145 SA offers performance allied to systems and airframe availability. First delivery to the SIVAM Project is scheduled for June 2001.

The EMB-145 SA is an AEW&C optimized for air traffic control applications. It incorporates an advanced mission system that includes a surveillance radar, advanced navigation and communication systems including data-link facilities and increased fuel capacity. ERIEYE detects and tracks air and sea targets to the horizon and beyond. The ERIEYE AEW&C Mission System features a new generation active, phased-array pulse-Doppler radar and a modularly, open C2 system. It means a considerably step-up in performance over systems depending on conventional rotodome antennas, providing improved radar performance, and higher system availability and growth potential. The ERIEYE single, dual-sided fixed antenna unit places much less demand on aircraft size than was previously possible for high performance AEW&C systems. ERIEYE is the world’s first high-performance AEW&C system designed for commuter type aircraft. This has resulted in reduced acquisition as well as operational costs. ERIEYE detects and tracks air and sea targets out to the horizon and beyond. Instrumented range is 450 km. Typical detection range against a fighter size target is in excess of 350 km.

Embraer is also developing an Airborne Remote Sensing version that employs the same airframe but outfitted with different mission sensors. Designated EMB-145 RS, three of these aircraft systems were also ordered for the SIVAM Project.

Available Specifications
Country of Origin Brasil
Builder Embraer
Role Airborne Surveillance
Similar Aircraft S 100B Argus
Engines 2 Allison AE 3007A turbofans
rated at 7,426 lb (3,368 kg) thrust each
Overall length 98 ft 29.87 m
Height 22 ft 2 in 6.75 m
Span 65 ft 9 in 20.04 m
Cabin width 6 ft 11 in 2.11 m
Cabin height 6 ft 1.82 m
Baggage compartment volume 325 ft3 9.20 m3
Maximum ramp weight 42,549 lb 19,300 kg
Maximum takeoff weight 45,415 lb 20,600 kg
Maximum landing weight 41,226 lb 18,700 kg
Maximum zero fuel weight 37,257 lb 16,900 kg
Typical operating weight 25,673 lb 11,600 kg
Maximum payload 12,125 lb 5,500 kg
Cargo compartment capacity 2,645 lb 1,200 kg
Maximum cruise speed 450 kt 833 km/h
Range with 50 passengers, 200 lb each, LRC 1,330 nm 2,460 km
Rate of Climb (all engines, sea level) 2,560 fpm 780 m/min
Service ceiling (all engines) 37,000 ft 11,278 m
Takeoff distance (FAR 25, sea level) 5,643 ft 1,720 m
Landing distance length (sea level) 4,200 ft 1,280 m
Pressurization 7,8 psi

For Source Details: http://www.embraer.com

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

IAI Phalcon 707
Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) developed its Phalcon system for Israeli defence forces and for export. Airborne Early Warning, Command and Control (AEWC&C) systems play a major role on the modern battlefield by providing real-time intelligence and command and control needed to achieve and maintain air superiority over the combat area and to enable surveillance of borders in peacetime. The world's most advanced AEWC&C system, the PHALCON, was developed and produced by ELTA using Active Phased Array Electronic Scanning Technology rather than a mechanically rotating antenna (rotodome) used by current AWACS systems, giving PHALCON greater operational flexibility and performance by several orders of magnitude. The Phalcon AEW&C aircraft is based on four sensors: phased-array radar, phased-array IFF, ESM/ELINT and CSM/COMINT. A unique fusion technology continuously cross-relates the data gathered by all sensors. When one of the sensors reports a detection, the system automatically initiates an active search of the complementary sensors.
The AWE&C phased array radar replaces the conventional rotodome radar. It is mounted either on the aircraft fuselage or on top of the aircraft inside a stationary dome, providing full 360° coverage. This electronically steered beam radar delivers a tremendous advantage over mechanical rotating antenna, as it supports the tracking a high maneuvering targets. The radar can detect even low flying objects from distances of hundreds of kilometers, day and night, under all weather conditions. Verification beams sent at specific, individual, newly detected targets eliminate false alarms. Moreover, track initiation is achieved in 2 to 4 seconds as compared to 20 to 40 seconds with a rotodome radar
The IFF system employs solid state phased array technology to perform interrogation, decoding, target detection and tracking. A monopulse technique is used to implement azimuth measurement. The IFF data is automatically correlated with the phased array radar.
The ESM/ELINT system receives, analyzes and locates radar signals, covering 360o. It combines high sensitivity with high probability of intercept, and achieves excellent accuracy in bearing measurement. The system uses narrow-band super-heterodyne receivers and wide-band instantaneous frequency measurement (IFM) techniques to provide very high accuracy and probability of intercept of airborne and surface emitters. Very high bearing accuracy for all received signals is achieved through Differential Time of Arrival (DTOA) measurements. The system also collects and analyzes ELINT data.
The PHALCON's CSM/COMINT receives in UHF, VHF and HF, rapidly searching for airborne, shipborne or ground communications signals of interest. Selected radio nets can be monitored for signal activity. A DF capability locates targets. Detected signals can be assigned to monitoring receivers instantaneously. The system makes extensive use of computers to reduce the load on operators.
The aircraft communicates, via its data link, with Air Defense HQ. Data from additional air defense sensors are fused to create a complete spatial picture.

The PHALCON systems can be installed on a variety of platforms, such as the Boeing 707, Boeing 767, Boeing 747, Airbus and C-130. This system has already been sold to Chile, where it is designated "Condor". Under the aegis of Defense Minister Yitzhak Mordechai and Defense Ministry Director General Ilan Biran, six agreements for cooperation between Israeli, American and European defense firms were signed on 15 October 1998. Under one of these agreements, IAI/ELTA Electronics Industries Ltd. and Raytheon Systems Company will cooperate on the development, production and marketing of AEWC&C systems on a world wide basis. The new project will be based on PHALCON. The two companies have already teamed up to compete for tenders for AEWC&C systems for Australia, South Korea and Turkey.

Available Specifications
Country of Origin Israel
Builder IAI
Role
Similar Aircraft
Wing Span 44.60 m
Wing Area 283.40 m²
Length 44.40 m
Height 12.90 m
Weight
Engine 4 x P&W JT3D-3B
Maximum speed 973 Km/h
Cruising speed
Range 6,920 Km


:) :) :)

[Prokiller]

To sum up....the Indian's get the better one...

[h177]

To sum up....the Indian's get the better one...

How? The specification given is for ERIEYE which is $100M a piece. PAF ERIEYE is

$250M per aircraft. So it is alot different in capabilities in terms of T/R modules,

ELINT, SIGNIT, COMINT, FLIR and SAR.

[abdul 4]

i think we should get an aircraft wit turbofans for the awacs. also....the rotodome gives the phalcon 360 vision. is ther anyway that we can put the ericson system on a rotating platform and then fix it on the aircraft so if u want a view of a differnt direction u dont hav to turn the whole aircraft but just rotate the platform? also, i think turbofans are better because they giv mor speed and thrust. payload can also increase. turboprops however r reliable and efficient. which one do u guys prefer?

abdul

[Rahul]

H177 What PAF erieye is this......

WHERE YOU GET THIS garbage about $250 million a peice from.

All i have herd is speculation from PAKISTANS FAMOUS DAWN proganda magazine.

Care to give link.

OR DEMONSTRATE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A $100 MILLION Erieye & Your PAF supossed version costing $250 billion.

The figures on this forum where quoted as $45 million a peice.

[h177]

H177      What PAF erieye is this......

  WHERE YOU GET THIS garbage about $250 million a peice from.

  All i have herd is speculation from PAKISTANS FAMOUS DAWN proganda magazine.

  Care to give link.

  OR DEMONSTRATE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A $100 MILLION Erieye & Your PAF supossed version costing $250 billion.

The figures on this forum where quoted as $45 million a peice.

Why you cant read even NEWSPAPER report. It is in JANG/NEWS not in Dawn first

of all. The price is $1.7B for 7 systems. 7 turboprop aircraft price is $45M not

the radar price.

[SKL]

H177        
  All i have herd is speculation from PAKISTANS FAMOUS DAWN proganda magazine.

 

DAWN KO BHI GALIEEYA DETA HAII!! (IMG:http://forum.pakistanidefence.com//style_emoticons/PDFEmotionIconsv10/angry.gif) HARAMI INSAAN TAMMEZ SEY BAAT KERNA SEKH YAHA PEY AAKER. KYU AAJ KYA ZADA COW-COLA PEE KER AAYA HAI!! SMELLY #### INDIAN :D TYPICAL INDIAN LOW MENTALITY

[Guest_Adil_*]

How? The specification given is for ERIEYE which is $100M a piece. PAF ERIEYE is

$250M per aircraft. So it is alot different in capabilities in terms of T/R modules,

ELINT, SIGNIT, COMINT, FLIR and SAR.

Yes....that was the old ERIEYE.........which lacked many stuff as mentioend above...including full 360 degree radar detection.





PAF is getting the better version.

[Guest_Adil_*]

DAWN KO BHI GALIEEYA DETA HAII!!  (IMG:http://forum.pakistanidefence.com//style_emoticons/PDFEmotionIconsv10/angry.gif)   HARAMI INSAAN TAMMEZ SEY BAAT KERNA SEKH YAHA PEY AAKER.  KYU AAJ KYA ZADA COW-COLA PEE KER AAYA HAI!!  SMELLY #### INDIAN  :D TYPICAL INDIAN LOW MENTALITY

COW-COLA!!!!!! :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:



MAN I LOVE THIS FORUM!!!!!

[Guest_Adil_*]

guysi am confused about the RANGES OF DETECTION for both erieye and phalcon.


I mean some sources say the range of erieye is 450 km. and Phalcon is 6,250km.


And some say range of erieye is 2,224km



I mean what the hell??? can anyone give me the RANGES OF THEIR DETECTION??

anyone knowledable...like H177??? (bhindians dont even try to :lol: )

[Saqr]

Well, the PAF is going for 7 Saab-2000 Eireyes, after deducting away the price of PIA planes, and more calculations, the PAF is buying each Saab-2000 Erieye for 200mn US Dollars a piece, hence h177 was almost right.

As for Phalcon, well the IAF got it for around 330mn US Dollars a piece.

[Hataf]

This is the last time ( for God sake )

ERIEYE

ERIEYE has been developed by Ericsson Microwave Systems. The system comprises an active, phased-array pulse-Doppler radar including integrated secondary surveillance radar and identification friend or foe (SSR/IFF), a comprehensive, modular command-and-control system, electronic support measures (ESM), communications and datalinks.

Rather than conventional rotodome antenna system, ERIEYE has a fixed, dual-sided and electronically scanned antenna mounted on top of the fuselage. This places much less demand on aircraft size and is designed for mounting on commuter-type aircraft. The ERIEYE is capable of 360° detection and tracking of air and sea targets over the horizon. The instrumented range is 450km and a typical detection range against a fighter aircraft size target is in excess of 350km.
The system uses advanced solid-state electronics, open-system architecture and ruggedized commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) hardware, including general-purpose programmable workstations and full-colour LCD displays. The ERIEYE radar is already in service with the Swedish Air Force and is in series production for Brazil and other customers.


Link


More:


ERICSSON MICROWAVE SYSTEMS - DEFENSE ELECTRONICS AND MICROWAVE COMMUNICATIONS
Ericsson Microwave Systems is uniquely placed to provide solutions for network-based defense and national security. Ericsson's telecom technology and global services expertise, in addition to building civilian infrastructures, is a base for developing solutions for security and defense agencies worldwide. By bridging existing and future telecom networks with information layers we make command, information and engagement services available to operators in real-time. We also ensure information security and interoperability.

Our expertise ranges from integrating radar sensors and systems with command and control functionality to fusing sensor images and distributing them to operators and commanders via the net. In concert with advanced command and control support systems, this establishes information and decision superiority.

Ericsson Microwave Systems is one of only five companies in the world capable of developing radar systems for advanced fourth generation fighter aircraft. We are also the only company outside of the US to produce an operational airborne surveillance system as advanced as the ERIEYE.

We support our customers by identifying problem areas and creating system definitions in response. We also offer products and services for building new, or complementing existing, solutions. We can assist our customers in integrating their systems and optimizing their operations. With longer-term agreements, Ericsson Microwave Systems are able to provide spare part support, maintenance and on-going solution upgrades.

ERIEYE – LONG-RANGE AIRBORNE EARLY WARNING & CONTROL (AEW&C) SYSTEM
ERIEYE is the first high performance, AEW&C system based on active phased-array pulse-Doppler radar and includes radar (with integrated SSR/IFF), electronic support measures, communications and data links, comprehensive and command-and-control facilities and a self-protection system. Capable of installation in a variety of commercial and military aircraft, this system meets full AEW&C requirements for detecting and tracking targets of up to 450km over land or water. The radar offers many advantages:

Superior resolution accuracy
Enhanced detection and tracking performance (including active simultaneous tracking of multiple targets)
Improved resistance to electronic countermeasures (ECM)
Fully interoperable with and easily integrated into NATO Air Defense Command Systems



Link

[instantexcess]

i duno whats wrong with ppl here ...

they think if its not round it can't give 360 Coverage ...

[Guest_Adil_*]

i dont understand.....why r people hesitating to compare the RANGES of phalcon and erieye????



what is PHALCON'S range?? erieye is 450...ok.

[Kano]

H177      What PAF erieye is this......

  WHERE YOU GET THIS garbage about $250 million a peice from.

  All i have herd is speculation from PAKISTANS FAMOUS DAWN proganda magazine.

  Care to give link.

  OR DEMONSTRATE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A $100 MILLION Erieye & Your PAF supossed version costing $250 billion.

The figures on this forum where quoted as $45 million a peice.

Typical hindian mentality --- just pretending it is $45 million a piece wont make it such. Where did you obtain that figure from? or is it that your inferiority complex makes you pull it out of your a$$?

The deal is quoted worth $1.7 billion for 7 AEW&C systems+ planes. Use a freakin calculator next time and dont waste bandwidth.

[pegasusflight]

that's pretty good...450 km can easily look deep into alll the indian air force
bases on the western front...now these erieyes can vector in F-7PG's and
Mirages to incoming bogeys....w. mirage having bvr likely, and the Grifo 7S
likely giving the F-7PG near-bvr capabilities, this alone will be a huge concern
for the IAF...not to mention the addition of JF-17 and possibly a 4-th gen
aircraft in the near future...remember, there will be 7 of these babies..you could
likely scan the whole border north-south..

[Saqr]

Kano

I gave Rahul a calculated estimate of the costs, if he needs a grade 6 math lesson, so be it :lol:

Rahul

1.7bn US Dollars = 7 Saab-2000 Erieye AEW&C + 7 PIA Saab-2000 Commercial Planes

The unit cost of the plane alone is 45mn US Dollars...

Multiply 45*7 (PIA Planes) = 315mn US Dollars

1700mn US Dollars -subtract- 315mn US Dollars = 1385mn US Dollars

Divide 1385mn US Dollars by 7 (AEW&C) = roughly 200mn US Dollars...

It ain't NuCelar Science...butthead :rolleyes:

This post has been edited by Diving Falcon: Jul 17 2004, 08:55 PM

[deltared075]

guysi am confused about the RANGES OF DETECTION for both erieye and phalcon.
I mean some sources say the range of erieye is 450 km. and Phalcon is 6,250km.
And some say range of erieye is 2,224km
I mean what the hell??? can anyone give me the RANGES OF THEIR DETECTION??

anyone knowledable...like H177??? (bhindians dont even try to  :lol:  )

Are you kidding me? The earth is a round! not flat! how can a phalcon detect 6250km?

:lol: That 6250km is how far the phalcon plane can fly dude! and the erieye can fly 2224km! phalcon is larger and more fuel, so can fly longer range than erieye.

[Saqr]

Actually, IL-76 can fly longer and further than Saab-2000 :) The Radars don't matter in flying distance :)

[Guest_Adil_*]

THIS IS THE LAST TIME I AM ASKING!!!!!


WHAT IS THE BLOODY RANGE OF THE PHALCON RADAR!!!!??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????




ERIEYE IS 450 KM.......FINE..............BUT WHAT THE BLOODY HELL IS THE RANGE OF THE PHALCON RADAR????????????????????????????????????????????


WHY DOESNT ANYONE ANSWER??????????????????????????????????????


I NEED AN ACCURATE REPLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[h177]

Kano

I gave Rahul a calculated estimate of the costs, if he needs a grade 6 math lesson, so be it  :lol:

Rahul

1.7bn US Dollars = 7 Saab-2000 Erieye AEW&C + 7 PIA Saab-2000 Commercial Planes

The unit cost of the plane alone is 45mn US Dollars...

Multiply 45*7 (PIA Planes) = 315mn US Dollars

1700mn US Dollars -subtract- 315mn US Dollars = 1385mn US Dollars

Divide 1385mn US Dollars by 7 (AEW&C) = roughly 200mn US Dollars...

It ain't NuCelar Science...butthead  :rolleyes:

Price of all 7 planes is $45M not one plane. So we are getting the planes almost

for free. only the Radar price is $250M. You can deduct $100M from IAF price of

PHALCONS so it is around $330M per aircraft. Since PAF is buying double the

number of radars of IAF so the price is lower. Also ERIEYE Is widely sold as

compared to PHALCONS so price is lower.

[h177]

Phalcon range.

News

The jewel in the crown

ARIEH O'SULLIVAN
693 words
1 March 2004
The Jerusalem Post
Daily
03
English
.

The sale of Israel's Phalcon AWACS to India represents the jewel in the crown of arms deals to India, which has become one of Israel's largest arms markets.

It is also proof that Israel learned its lesson from the fiasco in 2000, when it tried to sell the Phalcon to China without Washington's approval. Then Israel was forced to renege on the potential $2 billion deal and ended up paying Beijing $320 million in compensation.

This time, Israel made sure of getting US approval, even if it doesn't like to admit it.

"We are an independent state. We don't need anybody's permission," Amos Yaron, director-general of the Defense Ministry, told The Jerusalem Post.

Israel's defense establishment should be proud of itself. In an era of reduced arms sales, the country has recorded an impressive string of deals. Last year it signed contracts worth $2.8 billion.

As the world's fifth largest arms exporter, Israel chalked up 10 percent of total arms deals made in 2003. Israel also needs the deal to help its own military industries develop new generations of advanced weaponry.

One of these is the Phalcon, which stands for phased array L- band conformal radar. Manufactured by Elta, a subsidiary of Israel Aircraft Industries, the advanced airborne early-warning system allows aircraft to conduct long-range radar surveillance and coordinate forces during battle.

It is mounted in a dish placed on the top of a Russian Ilyushin- 76 converted transport jet. It is an all-weather system capable of logging 60 targets simultaneously to a range of up to 400 kms.

Thanks to foreign sales the local defense industry can invest in research and development for top-of-the-line systems. This summer, for example, Elta will be installing the radar system in three new GV Gulfstream 5 aircraft to serve as the IAF's next-generation AWACS.

Israel has tapped a niche in the world market. Israel doesn't manufacture large transport planes. It sells upgrades of existing systems. And when defense budgets around the world are dwindling, that is exactly what countries are seeking.

But the AWACS deal to India is different, because it pits Israel Aircraft Industries on a competitive path with such powerhouses as Boeing and British Aerospace.

"Elta is playing in the big boys' league. Elta is one of the most advanced and successful factors in IAI and with this signing of the Phalcon deal IAI has reached new records," said Doron Suslik, deputy vice president of corporate communications at IAI.

Once a down payment for the Phalcons is made, IAI will have a backlog of some $5.5b.

While politically Washington may not oppose the deal to India, the aerospace giants in the US could. Boeing beat out a European- Israeli consortium to sell AWACS to Australia last year and later bulldozed Israel out of a similar deal in Turkey.

With India purchasing the Israeli products, it is bound to have a major impact on future sales. Israel has recently overtaken Russia as India's main arms supplier. Defense News reported recently that India bought $2.7b. worth of weapons and munitions from Israel in 2003. This amounted to more than 30 percent of total orders for Israel's defense industries. (This is in addition to the $702 million in non-military exports to India.) Israel has sold India a vast amount of advanced weaponry including Barak anti-ship missile systems, Green Pine radar (part of the Arrow 2 system), and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

This kind of news has the leaders of the defense establishment glowing.

At Sunday's cabinet meeting, the defense establishment presented its revised annual outlook. The main theme was that Israel needs to maintain its high level of research and development in the weapons- system area so it can continue to produce attractive weapons systems.

That said, the officials told the security cabinet that they have now revised this coming year's expected $2.5b. in arms sales to $4b., which would match the record for 2002, if not surpass it.

[Guest_Adil_*]

h177 mein aap ka yeh ahsaaaan kaise bhooloonga



jab puri duniya ne mujhe PHALCON AWACS ki range bataane se inkaar kar diya....., sirf aap ne mera saath diya aur mujhe PHALCON AWACS ki range batayi








well if it is 400km................i think rangewise it is in the class of ERIEYE.

India must be very worried LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :lol:

[deltared075]

Most AWACS have the range between 350km to 600km.
E-3C have range 600km?

[sorwar]

h177 mein aap ka yeh ahsaaaan kaise bhooloonga
jab puri duniya ne mujhe PHALCON AWACS ki range bataane se inkaar kar diya....., sirf aap ne mera saath diya aur mujhe PHALCON AWACS ki range batayi
well if it is 400km................i think rangewise it is in the class of ERIEYE.

India must be very worried LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :lol:

The Phalcon costs around $350m a copy, wheras the Erieye is around $125m. Those figure of max. range do not mean anything since different manufacturers use different criteria to come up with the numbers. The most typical numbers that I have come up is(with a target that is the size of a small fighter) is that the Phalcon can detect at around 400km and the Erieye around 330km. Phalcon is also a complete sytem with full processing on board while the Erieye sends raw data down to ground stations to handle.

[Guest_Adil_*]

The Phalcon costs around $350m a copy, wheras the Erieye is around $125m. Those figure of max. range do not mean anything since different manufacturers use different criteria to come up with the numbers. The most typical numbers that I have come up is(with a target that is the size of a small fighter) is that the Phalcon can detect at around 400km and the Erieye around 330km. Phalcon is also a complete sytem with full processing on board while the Erieye sends raw data down to ground stations to handle.

Is PHALCON a Hindu God??

[deltared075]

Is PHALCON a Hindu God??

Their life! :lol:

[Hataf]

Their life! :lol:

:lol: :lol: :lol: well said

[goodman]

As far as i understand(correct me if i am wrong)Phalcon is an AMACS and what PAF is getting is a AEW bcoz look at the size of the aircraft that are used to carry the radars.And what Eriye lacks is ground mapping and surface scanning.Am i right?

[Saqr]

Phalcon is an AMACS and what PAF is getting is a AEW bcoz

lol...aren't AWACS and AEW&C the same damn thing :rolleyes:

Anyways, like I said, the price of the Saab-2000 Erieye AEW&C is 200mn to 250mn US Dollars a piece, and it is inferior to Phalcon, but a helluva lot easier to maintain, and perfect for Pakistan.

[h177]

AWACS and AEW&C is now the same thing. It all depends on how much money a country is willing to pay for adding new features. Currently i think the Chinese-Russian program is the most powerful one. just look at the range against Cruise missile. If this is the range against cruise missile than for Fighter size target it will be somewhere 1500KM.


JANE'S DEFENCE WEEKLY - APRIL 21, 2004

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

New 'Mainstay' AEW&C aircraft flying in China
Robert Hewson Editor Jane's Air-Launched Weapons
London
Additional reporting Martin Streetly Editor Jane's Electronic Mission Aircraft
London

Clear evidence has emerged that a significant Chinese airborne early-warning and control (AEW&C) development programme is now under way. AEW&C platforms, based on the Ilyushin Il-76, are now flying with the China Flight Test Establishment (CFTE).

Several photographs of these previously unknown aircraft have been released via Chinese sources in the same 'semi-official' way that the first images of the Chengdu J-10 fighter aircraft and other secretive Chinese defence projects have been leaked to outside observers. The images show aircraft carrying the badge of the CFTE, operating from Nanjing. No official information is available as to the status of the programme (or programmes) and observers are surprised at the level of advanced development that appears to have been reached.

Russia has already developed and deployed an Il-76-based AEW&C platform as the Ilyushin/Beriev A-50 and A-50M 'Mainstay'. At the end of the 1990s, China attempted to acquire a similar capability from Israel Aircraft Industries, as the A-50I, using Russian-supplied airframes mated with the Elta Phalcon phased-array radar system in a fixed (non-rotating) radome. A development aircraft was flown in Israel but the deal was halted in 2000 under intense US political pressure. Israel has been adamant that no AEW&C technology was transferred, although the bare A-50I airframe was handed over in 2002 to the Chinese authorities.

It should be noted that at least one of the aircraft seen flying in China has several key design features of the A-50I that are not found on Russia's 'Mainstays'. These include two ventral fins under the rear fuselage and the absence of the A-50's prominent fin-root intake.

Two different Chinese AEW&C configurations have been observed. It is not clear if both are flying simultaneously. There may have been a staged testing effort to prove the final radome configuration or there may be two parallel programmes, involving at least a pair of aircraft.

One set of photographs shows an aircraft with its circular dorsal radome supported by a large tri-cornered mast. This arrangement may indicate the presence of a fixed phased-array radar, using three antennas in a triangular arrangement to provide 360º coverage. An equivalent antenna layout was part of the original A-50I design. The second AEW&C configuration sees the radome sitting on two angled masts, similar to those of the existing A-50 design but with two horizontal bracing struts between the vertical supports. The radome on this aircraft appears to be deeper than that of a Russian A-50 - another pointer to the possible use of phased-array antennas in place of a rotating pulse-Doppler radar. Radar development for this programme may be the responsibility of the Nanjing Electronic Technology Research Institute (also known as the No 14 Institute), although there is a strong possibility of outside assistance, perhaps from Russia.

The origin of China's AEW&C aircraft remains unclear, as does their number. JDW reported that China was seeking to acquire Il-76s from Uzbekistan in 1997, although Russia is unlikely to have permitted this. By 2003 China was understood to be negotiating directly with Russia for the supply of a new A-50 variant, the A-50Eh (Ehksport, export). This programme, known as Project No 5, is thought to cover the lease of two test and evaluation A-50 aircraft to be followed by the acquisition of three to six A-50Ehs. The programme is reportedly due for completion by 2005 with each aircraft costing $180 million-$200 million. According to JDW sources, the A-50Eh radar is able to detect a cruise missile-sized target in ground/sea clutter at ranges of up to 463km.

Taiwanese sources allege that a secret A-50Eh deal was concluded with Russia last year. Taiwanese press reports also state that the A-50s have been exercising with People's Liberation Army Air Force Su-27 (J-11) and Su-30MKK aircraft. The sudden appearance of Chinese A-50s in the Nanjing Military Region, so near the Taiwan Strait, has caused consternation in Taiwan and represents a major shift in China's ability to conduct integrated offensive air operations

[h177]

Currently ERIEYE has the ground mapping and ELINT capabilities but it is on separate aircraft. In case of PAF it will be combined into one.


Amazon Operations

Designed for Crime; Embraer's EMB-145 airliner has spawned new intel-gathering tools for the government

David A. Fulghum
1,267 words
12 July 2004
Aviation Week & Space Technology
52
Volume 161, Number 2
English
Here on the ramp at the Embraer plant sits a lineup of airborne surveillance aircraft newly built for the Greek air force and due for delivery in time for this summer's Olympic Games. Another was just delivered to the air force of Mexico for maritime patrol.

They are the latest version of Embraer's twin-jet EMB-145 regional airliner, and part of a series that is offering the world's air forces an inexpensive alternative, perhaps 20-30% of the $5,000 per hr. operating cost of conventional four-engine jet and turboprop surveillance aircraft.

The Brazilian air force is already operating two variants of the aircraft that were designed for the dual purpose of protecting the Amazon (as part of the System for the Vigilance of the Amazon program--Sivam) and aiding law enforcement efforts against illegal mining, timbering and smuggling.

The two complementary intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) systems--rolled out as the R-99A aerial surveillance and R-99B remote sensing aircraft--were born with the Sivam program and delivered to the air force in 2002 and 2003, says Fausto F. Ferreira, ISR systems business manager for Embraer.

In just two years, Embraer, the Brazilian air force and Raytheon developed the designs for both aircraft and conducted first flight in 1999. Only three years later, the first aircraft of each model was delivered to the new squadron of specialists formed to operate them.

Several complex changes were made to the basic aircraft to transform it into a special missions platform including beefing up the aircraft structure, electrical system, avionics and engines. However, a selling point was the primary airline requirement to fly more than 8 hr. a day with minimum turnaround time. The operational profile for Amazon patrol is at least 6-hr. endurance at a range of 160 naut. mi., Ferreira says.

Both the R-99A and R-99B are designed to spend 6 hr. on station at 150 naut. mi. from their bases assuming hot day operations and a full mission crew, Ferreira says. However, the latter aircraft has a significantly different mission profile due to the need to fly some portions of its mission at low altitudes for the best use of its electro-optical sensors.

Upgrades to the aircraft continue to allow more operations to be conducted on board (possibly leading to increasing the number of sensor stations from three to six) and for the aircraft to carry heavier mission payloads. The Rolls-Royce AE 3007 A1P now provides 20% more thrust than the original ERJ 145 engine plus a reverse system. The aircraft were designed to operate on runways in the Amazon region at Brazilian standard environmental conditions (ISA+20 kt. for takeoff) at maximum takeoff weight. With the new engine, the EMB-145 special mission platform design weights have been increased about 10% compared with the original Sivam configuration.

The Sivam fleet of eight aircraft (five R-99As and three R-99Bs) had completed more than 4,000 operational flight hours through the end of 2003. Even in the hostile environment of the Amazon, the fleet has maintained a 96% mission readiness rate while usually carrying only the mission crew of six and a small spare parts kit.

No special ground equipment is required so it can deploy quickly and operate from very austere bases, says Maj. "Shadow." Usually, the crews take only a towing device and water. A fast-reaction spares system has been developed that normally will deliver replacement parts to anywhere in the country within 6 hr., he says.

The R-99A (EMB-145 SA/airborne surveillance) early warning and command and control (AEW&C) aircraft is recognizable by its Swedish-built, Ericsson Erieye early warning radar in a ventral fin atop the fuselage. It has an instrumented range of more than 460 km. (286 mi.), a detection range of a typical fighter in excess of 450 km. and both air-to-air and air-to-sea modes. Air force officials say that from an altitude of 25,000 ft. the tactical observation area begins about 30 naut. mi. from the aircraft and forms a rectangle 140 naut. mi. deep and 240-270 naut. mi. wide.

The radar array is made up of 192 transmitter/receiver modules so that several can fail with no significant degradation in acuity. It can produce four different waveforms that are applied depending on operational mode, vegetation, geography and target dynamics. It can pick out small targets (as low as -20dBsm) regardless of the type of clutter and offer high revisit rates for selected targets. The radar also produces a narrow beam that is effective against jamming, Ferreira says. Much of the system's heat is dissipated by the exterior antenna which uses ram air for cooling.

The $1.39-billion radar program was financed by the U.S. Export-Import Bank (the second largest loan in the bank's history), Sweden, Raytheon and a number of subcontractors.

Both aircraft have the same signals intelligence package as the Communications/Non-Communications Exploitation System. That's the equivalent of communications (comint) and electronic (elint) intelligence gathering systems. The system collects data that can be analyzed by the mission crew or linked to ground processors at Anapolis AFB or to the Regional Surveillance centers in Manaus, Porto Velho and Belem.

The communications intercept capability operates in a frequency range from HF to UHF, an advanced direction finding capability, digital audio recording and a panoramic display for the system's operator.

An elint capability can observe emissions from UHF to K band and offer direction finding as well as a panoramic display for the operator.

The second design is the R-99B (EMB-145 RS/remote sensing) electronic surveillance and signals intelligence gathering aircraft which has ground surveillance radar and other sensors placed the length of its substantially bottom fuselage.

The dual-band synthetic aperture radar (SAR) offers both L-band (full polarimetric that allows some foliage penetration) and X-band (interferometric that provides 3-D maps) surveillance in several different operational modes including strip, spot with various resolutions, wide-area surveillance, moving target indicator and air-to-air. The strip mode has resolution of 3, 6 and 18 meters (10, 20 and 59 ft.) and swath widths ranging from 20-120 km. The SAR's slant-range is listed by Embraer at more than 65 naut. mi. which allows the aircraft to perform its missions in a standoff orbit. The air force says the system can record five channels simultaneously (Quad L+X) of the same scene for critical image analysis.

The SAR has a moving target indicator to pick out objects in motion on the ground or on the rivers. The aircraft's normal operating height is 33,000 ft., but it is qualified for altitudes up to 37,000 ft., Ferreira says.

The 31-channel, multi-spectrum scanner has 28 channels operating in the visible (including real-time color imagery) and near infrared, two in short-wave infrared and one in thermal infrared. Depending on the operational mode and how close the aircraft is to the target, resolution can range from centimeters to several meters.

The optical infrared system uses three cameras: infrared, color TV zoom and a high-resolution color TV spotter scope. The infrared zoom is 21 power, while the optical zoom offers 18 power

[waqas_2365]

Ok now can any body tell me that
can erieye detect ballistic missiles

can erieye be datalinked with PAF Jf-17s , Mirages and F-16s or the future ones

[visioninthedark]

well .... strange .... considering all this .... it would have been politically smarter for India to go for the erieye earlier on .... thus blocking our chances of getting any from sweden ....

this would have been a smart move because .... if that had happened ... we'd be in a fix ... since we would not be able to buy from Israel anyways ...

so I think that INdia made a wrong strategic move to purchase the phalcon .... if India had gone for the erieye .... they would have killed two birds with one stone ...

Kudos to the PAF ...!!!

[GoldenEagle]

IMPLICATIONS OF INDIAN AIRBORNE EARLY WARNING

CAPABILITY FOR PAKISTAN’S ARMED FORCES


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Introduction





India has been pursuing a programme for the acquisition of an Airborne Early Warning (AEW) capability for over twenty years. The initial effort, launched in the early eighties, was indigenous and led to the development of a rotodome equipped HS 748 by the mid nineties. The development of a compatible radar system, however, could not keep pace and even the only modified airframe was lost in a crash in early 1999. During this process, efforts were made to acquire appropriate technology/ components from other countries, notably Israel, for incorporation in the indigenous system.





With the failure of the indigenous effort, the focus now seems to have shifted to the acquisition of a developed system from abroad. The Russian A-50 system was tested in India in 2000 and recent reports indicate the imminence of a deal with Israel for the purchase of three Phalcon radar systems to be installed on the IL-76 airframe. The Indian Navy is already in the process of inducting a limited AEW capability in the form of KA-31 helicopters.





It is thus evident that India is in serious pursuit of this capability and is likely to acquire it in the not too distant future. Whatever the origin/ source of the system finally inducted, it is likely to further tilt the balance of conventional forces in her favour with serious implications for Pakistan’s armed forces in general and PAF in particular.









Significance of AEW Capability



Radar is the primary mean available to an air force for provision of early warning against incursions into the airspace it is required to defend. A chain of ground-based radars can provide adequate warning against intruders approaching at high or medium altitudes for the defender to react appropriately. For attackers approaching at very low altitudes, however, ground based radars




cannot provide sufficient reaction time because of their inability to see beyond the horizon at these altitudes. The defender thus has to adopt complex, expensive and wasteful solutions to guard his low level airspace. Even then this coverage cannot be extended beyond the borders.





An airborne early warning system overcomes this limitation of ground based radars by taking the radar aloft and literally expanding its horizon from 25-30 NM at ground level to 100-300 NM depending upon the platform employed and the altitude maintained. This coverage not only provides adequate early warning for defensive purposes but, because of its ability to look beyond the borders, can also provide guidance and protection to own offensive missions operating in enemy territory. During peacetime this capability can be employed to monitor the pattern of enemy’s flying operations and training activities.





The radar picture generated by the AEW can either be downlinked to a ground based operations centre or, based on the capacity and capability of the platform, the control function can be incorporated and performed onboard. In the latter case the platform becomes an Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) or Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) system; both terms being synonymous. The overall capability of the system can be further enhanced by the addition of Electronic Support Measures (ECM) suites.





From the foregoing description of the generic capabilities of the AEW/AEW&C/AWACS it is clear that such a system can act as a true “Force Multiplier”. On the inventory of a smaller air force it can help offset the numerical disadvantage against a larger adversary. Conversely, its availability to the larger air force can endow that force with the decisive edge against an opponent, which though numerically smaller, is capable of putting up a credible challenge.







Implications for Pakistan’s Armed Forces



Geo-Strategic. The source of India’s AEW capability could have a major impact on the geo-strategic balance of the South Asian region. While acquisition of the Russian system would be in line with the traditional strategic alignments of




the region, induction of the Israeli system would give concrete shape and cement the new alignments which have been emerging over the past few years. It is quite evident that the Indo-Israeli deal will not go through without tacit US approval. Taken together with the cancellation of a contract to supply the same system to China and the outright rejection of Pakistan’s request for delivery of the embargoed F-16s, such a deal would imply a decisive US tilt in India’s favour notwithstanding the post September 11 scenario. Above all it would imply direct and long term Israeli involvement in the geo-politics of South Asia,





Military Strategy. Acquisition of an AEW system by India will introduce a new level of military technology in the sub-continent and place IAF in the category of few modern air forces of the world with this capability. A deal with Israel will take India’s access to Western military technology to new levels. Balance between contemporary conventional armed forces is becoming increasingly dependent upon the level of technology rather than pure numbers. The Indo-Pak balance, which is already in favour of India due to her numerical superiority and technological edge in certain areas, is thus likely to further shift in her direction. Since this shift is going to occur due to a major disparity developing in the capabilities of the two air forces and a serious imbalance at sea already exists (which will be further accentuated with the induction of AEW capability in the Indian Navy), Indian military strategy is likely to depend increasingly on the air and naval forces for the achievement of military aims as opposed to its traditional reliance on land forces. Within the nuclear environment of the sub-continent, such a change in strategy would be in line with the perceived nature of future war and Indian military aims, which are no longer expected to be space oriented. Even if the objectives remain space oriented in case of an all out war, albeit short of Pakistan’s nuclear threshold, dominance of air strategy would help achieve them quickly and blunt any counter strokes. In a geographically limited conflict the advantage would be even more pronounced.





Operational Strategy. Gaining and maintaining control of the air is the basic tenet of air strategy. In modern warfare it is not possible to conduct meaningful air or surface operations without a degree of control of air. As a minimum, an air force should be able to maintain a favourable air situation over the area of crucial surface operations for the duration of those operations. The current mission of the PAF tasks it to achieve this minimum. The ability of the PAF to accomplish its mission is, however, becoming increasingly questionable. Over the past decade, due to a combination of political and economic factors, it has lost the technological edge it once enjoyed over the IAF. The IAF on the other hand has been developing its capabilities steadily through regular infusions of new weapon systems and technologies. Although PAF is still capable of posing a credible challenge to the IAF, due largely to some well considered modernization / upgrade programmes of its old weapon systems and other stop-gap measures, induction of the AEW capability is likely to become the proverbial last straw on the camel’s back. The combination of AEW, Beyond Visual Range (BVR) air-to-air missiles and Electronic Warfare (EW) capabilities will enable the IAF to achieve air superiority over the areas of crucial surface operations. Under such an adverse air situation, PAF will neither be able to provide any meaningful support to nor prevent the IAF from interfering in the operations of Pak Army and Pak Navy; indeed it will be hard pressed to ensure its own viability. Devoid of protection and support from the air, chances of success of these operations will be questionable.







Response



The challenge posed by the Indian AEW capability will be a technological one and can only be met by compatible or better technology. Measures like up- gradation of older weapon systems, induction of less capable weapon systems, innovative tactics, realistic training, better morale and motivation etc, which the PAF has been pursuing, have their limits and will go only so far in bridging the expected gap. It is not that the PAF has been unaware or unmindful of the benefits and implications of the AEW capability. The need for the PAF to have this capability has long been recognized and concerted efforts were made during the 1980s to procure a system from the USA. These efforts fell victim to the Pressler sanctions of 1990. Subsequently other systems were evaluated and the Swedish Erieye was selected for procurement. The deal, however, could not materialize due to various reasons. Thus PAF yet again finds itself in a situation, for reasons beyond its control, where the IAF is poised to acquire a major new capability and it has to come up with a response with limited options at its disposal. In this case however, since the implications go beyond the PAF, a wholesome and well-coordinated response will need to be formulated for execution / implementation at appropriate levels.





A concerted diplomatic campaign must be launched immediately to highlight the total upsetting of the balance of conventional forces and its effect on the overall security situation and stability of the region. The fact that serious conventional arms imbalance between the two nuclear-armed adversaries will compromise the weaker nation’s military deterrence that may tempt the stronger nation to resort to the use of conventional arms to resolve disputes must be highlighted. Any conventional war could then easily escalate into a nuclear conflagration that would have serious security implications for the entire region. Friendly Muslim countries must be formally made aware of the extent and long-term implications of Indo-Israel defence cooperation, which is assuming strategic dimensions. Every effort must be made to convince America to discourage the Indo-Israel deal or alternately to lift the roadblocks from the path of Pakistan acquiring similar capability from Western sources. For the long term, China could be sounded out on the possibility of co-development of a system on the lines of the Super-7 project.





At the military strategy level the increasing dominant role of air power in modern warfare must be recognized and acknowledged. Together with the appreciation of the nature and type of any future Indo-Pakistan conflict, this should lead to an unbiased and realistic reappraisal of our military strategy including the roles, tasks and missions of the three services and their restructuring as necessary. Joint Staff Headquarters must support PAF’s requirements of an AEW system and high-tech fighter aircraft with BVR capability, accord them the due priority on the Integrated Priority List and ensure funding when acquisition becomes possible.





On its part the PAF needs to do its homework and must be ready with its plans and recommendations for speedy induction of an appropriate system. Meanwhile a study to establish the technical feasibility or otherwise of a collaborative effort with China needs to be undertaken. Additionally, Combat Commanders’ School must be tasked to devise tactics to counter the Indian AEW capability.







Conclusion



The importance of technology and air power on the contemporary battlefield has been well established over the past decade. IAF, through well thought-out long term modernization strategy and a stated doctrine, is in the process of acquiring weapon systems, technologies and capabilities of a modern air force; AEW capability being the latest. PAF on the other hand has been the service to suffer the most on account of sanctions and economic constraints imposed on Pakistani armed forces for the past ten years. This has already created a grave imbalance in the air, which will accentuate further with the induction of an AEW system. This has major implications for the other two services and Pakistan’s military strategy as a whole. It is beyond PAF’s capability to redress the situation on its own. There is a need for recognition of the situation at the Government and Joint Services level and a comprehensive response. Without such a response we might be condemned to relearn the lessons of very recent military history.

[GoldenEagle]

Airborne Early Warning: An affordable necessity?
by
Richard Aboulafia
Teal Group
raboulafia@tealgroup.com

Airborne Early Warning (AEW) and Airborne Warning And Control System (AWACS) aircraft are no longer a luxury. The ability to look down and see aerial targets at most altitudes, and to vector friendly fighters to intercept them, is a crucial element of the modern battlefield. Anybody without an E-2C (or its equivalent) is not a serious person, as noted historian Edward Luttwak has pointed out.
Yet the market for such aircraft has proven strangely disappointing. After most of the major powers acquired these planes in the 1970s and 1980s, the market failed to expand. Most of the sales in the 1990s were to existing AEW/AWACS users. Now, however, several promising and cost-conscious new technologies have emerged as potential market catalysts, portending growth at the high and low ends of the market.



At the high end of the market, the Hawkeye 2000 provides users with advanced technologies whose capabilities outstrip those of new, more affordable entries.


The last generation
When export sales of the Boeing E-3 Sentry and Northrop Grumman E-2 Hawkeye began in the 1970s, a new market emerged. The initial export E-3s went to equip a joint NATO fleet in the late 1970s. For the following two decades enough medium and large military powers signed up to create a market worth almost $1 billion annually. Maintenance, training, and upgrade expenses more than doubled the value of this market.

The interesting aspect of the market was the very high barriers to entry. The U.K., which had been using Shackleton bombers equipped with surplus Fairey Gannett radars for AEW, wished to avoid a multibillion- dollar acquisition of modern U.S. replacements. The U.K. tried to develop its own system, based on the Comet jetliner. The Nimrod AEW.3 was an unmitigated disaster and inevitably led to a U.K. acquisition of seven E-3s in 1986. This was the only concerted effort to develop an alternative to the two dominant U.S. systems.

Japan’s acquisition of the Sentry system, mounted for the first and last time on Boeing 767s, was the last gasp of this era. This sale, accomplished after considerable political pressure, resulted in some ill feelings. Japan wound up spending over $1.5 billion on four aircraft. Not only will these be "orphan" planes, but they were the last AWACS aircraft built with the E-3’s Northrop Grumman AN/APY-1 radar system. Within a few decades, development work on APY-1 upgrades will probably cease.

Of course, most countries could not afford to buy or operate these high-end AEW systems. Others, for political reasons, could not acquire them. Yet many still needed the capability.

Iraq had its own indigenous AEW design, but it failed miserably. India started an AEW program in 1984, and in 1989 began flying an experimental rotodome above a BAE 748. But it has progressed slowly, and in early 1999 a fatal crash destroyed the prototype.

As for Russia, it is developing an AEW variant of the Ilyushin Il-76, designated the A-50. India is leaning toward a lease arrangement for two of these. China is flying old BAE (GEC-Marconi) APY-92X radars, developed for the doomed Nimrod AEW.3, on an Il-76. In a clever marketing move, this troubled radar has been renamed Argus, but little progress has been made on getting the system running. The Chinese PLA air force still wants four AEW systems and is evaluating Russia’s A-50E Mainstay.

Probably the classic jerry-rigged AEW was the Iranian air force’s Grumman F-14 system. After the revolution, this aircraft’s AWG-9 was the most powerful airborne radar the service possessed, so the F-14s were employed in an AEW role.

If all of these budget AEW options sound a bit grim, consider the Indian and U.K. Royal Navy’s situation. For years, they have been forced to operate helicopters with AEW radars. The U.K. uses Westland Sea Kings, while India has a fleet of four Kamov Ka-31s, with five more ordered early this year. Radars and mission systems aside, helicopters are arguably the worst AEW platforms imaginable.



Boeing's E-737 proposal uses a 737 business jet airframe with Northrop Grumman's MESA radar.


The new players
In July 1999 Boeing’s E-737 proposal won Australia’s Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning and Control competition. The proposal uses a 737 BBJ (Boeing Business Jet) airframe, with Northrop Grumman’s Multirole Electronically Scanned Array (MESA) radar. Australia will buy seven aircraft, with deliveries beginning in 2004. Initial operating capability is scheduled for 2005.

The Australian order launched a new AWACS system that is not only advanced, but also extremely cost-effective. Unit cost for the Australian buy should be below $200 million, with all seven aircraft valued at $1.32 billion. An inexpensive narrowbody with an agile, electronically scanned array is a vast improvement over a lumbering widebody with a clumsy mechanical rotodome and a $400-million price tag.

Last November, Turkey also announced that the 737 MESA was its preferred choice for meeting its AWACS requirement. The country has made six firm orders (plus one option) worth an estimated $1.5 billion. Deliveries should begin in 2005.

The 737 MESA is not the only new AEW system, but it certainly occupies the best position on the market. The Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI)/Elta electronics phased-array L-band control antenna (Phalcon) is another advanced AEW design, yet it has not made a large impact on the market despite having arrived before the MESA. Phalcon’s initial versions were mounted in used Boeing 707s. Chile ordered the system and received its first aircraft in 1993. South Africa has taken delivery of two "Phalcon Lite" systems, also on 707s.

In October 1998 IAI teamed with Raytheon to develop, produce, and market Phalcon systems, particularly on the Airbus A310-300. Lockheed Martin has also discussed putting Phalcon on a C-130J. Russia offered China the A-50I, an Ilyushin Il-76-based system with Phalcon technology. The U.S. vetoed this sale in 2000.

Israel’s air force also uses Phalcons and has withdrawn its E-2Cs from service. However, Boeing is marketing the 737 MESA to Israel as an alternative to additional Phalcons. If Israel signed for these planes, the move would oust the Phalcon from most high-end markets.

To deal with this difficult market situation, IAI is considering scaling back its Phalcon ambitions. It is researching smaller, tactical versions with less capability and smaller price tags. Raytheon may be involved in this initiative, and could cooperate on a new Phalcon version that would use business jets such as the Gulfstream V or Bombardier’s Global Express.

Meanwhile, the E-2 system is still available. But because very few customers need or want the carrier-borne E-2 platform, Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman have also marketed the former company’s C-130J transport with the E-2C’s APS-145 and other avionics. This is a remarkably cost-effective, if unlaunched, option. Sadly, the 737 MESA—which offers newer, more capable technology at only a slightly higher price—could doom the system.

However, a few customers might still prefer the E-2 option for interoperability with Navy systems. To satisfy customers looking for a jetliner-mounted system, Northrop Grumman is reconsidering its choice of platform, and is now looking at Fairchild Dornier’s 928JET.

Despite the continued presence of the Phalcon and E-2 systems on the market, there is little question that the 737 MESA represents the new high-end standard. The system’s relatively low price should enable this segment of the market to grow.



High-end AEW export sales, E-2, E-3, E-767, E-737


Satisfying the low-cost segment
Just as the 737 MESA is expanding the high end of the market, a new inexpensive system is bringing improved capabilities to the low end. Ericsson Microwave Systems’ PS-890 Erieye radar offers a basic AEW capability on a low-cost regional aircraft.

The system was launched by the Swedish air force, which ordered it on Saab’s 340 turboprop. The service ordered the 340AEW, designated S 100B Argus, in February 1993 and took options on five additional aircraft, which were firmed up in early 1994. A prototype flew in mid-1994. The first aircraft was delivered in 1996, and the Swedish air force took delivery of the first functioning Argus system in late 1997.

The Erieye system received a boost when Brazil selected it for its SIVAM surveillance system, managed by Raytheon. For this application, the Erieye is mounted on Embraer’s ERJ-145 regional jet (R-99 in Brazilian air force service). The first one was rolled out in May 1999.

Embraer and Ericsson are also promoting this variant abroad, and in December 1998 Greece ordered four aircraft. The Greek planes will use a more advanced system, with avionics from France’s Thales (Thomson-CSF). Ericsson is talking with Lockheed Martin about an Erieye/C-130J combination.

The Erieye system, which costs about half as much as the E-2 system, has unquestionably revolutionized the AEW market. After all, before it arrived, countries such as Brazil and Mexico had almost no hope of deploying an adequate AEW system. Yet Erieye also represents an inappropriate compromise for countries that have the money—an example of the good system being the worst enemy of the best system.

Greece’s selection of Erieye certainly illustrates this. The country is getting an adequate AEW system at a very reasonable price. But the Greek military cannot be said to have a robust AEW capability, whereas its rival, Turkey, will. Similarly, South Korea, which is looking at both the 737 MESA and Erieye, aspires to regional power status. An Erieye selection would jeopardize that ambition. Clearly, there is a risk of compromising in an area that is a bad place for compromise.



Erieye


The future of the market
Again, any country seeking to establish itself as a military power will eventually need to acquire an AEW/AWACS system. To crudely establish the future market for these systems, one must compile a list of large and medium military powers. If those that are AEW/ AWACS users are then removed from the list, the remaining countries are the market.

After the Australian and Turkish orders, South Korea is obviously the best example of a military power without AEW, and its requirement is probably the most pressing. Despite the Erieye’s low costs, the 737 MESA system has an excellent chance.

Malaysia also has an AEW requirement. Given the country’s finances and military infrastructure, the Erieye offers an ideal choice, although several other competitors are in the running. A decision could be made in 2003.

Italy, one of the few major NATO powers without an intrinsic AEW capability, is looking at those two systems plus the E-2 option. The competition has been postponed until 2007, but it could be moved forward.

Even as the market for AEW grows and capabilities improve, there are signs that a new standard for the high end might be emerging. Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance (ISR) is the Air Force’s long-term vision for merging the AWACS mission with other special mission applications, including JSTARS (Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System) and Rivet Joint (Signals Intelligence).

ISR will use a single platform. Plans are sketchy right now, but the Air Force will probably decide to base the new creation around Boeing’s 767. This would cooperate with space-based assets and unmanned aerial vehicles.

The program could begin in FY04, but funding for ISR remains a big question mark. Yet if it goes ahead, ISR would give its users an incredible wealth of integrated knowledge about any adversary.

In short, the market is expected to return to that of the 1970s, when a single superpower and its allies possessed a unique capability, one that served as a tremendous force multiplier. Other countries will only be able to wait until this technology becomes affordable and trickles down to them.


AEW/AWACS Capabilities

Robust

Australia*
Egypt
France
Israel
Japan
NATO (registered in Luxembourg)
Singapore
Taiwan
Turkey*
U.K.
U.S.
Limited

Brazil*
Chile
Greece*
Mexico*
Russia
South Africa
Sweden
*On order.

[GoldenEagle]

Pak eyes Brazilian AWACS to outdo India
PRESS TRUST OF INDIA



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


New Delhi, Nov 20: In an apparent bid to outdo India in the race for the airborne early warning aircraft (AWACS), Pakistan is reportedly in the final stages of negotiations with Brazil for the purchase of six EMB-145 remote sensing aircraft to give it a cutting edge in air and naval surveillance in the sub-continent.

The Brazilian Erieye AWACS system is capable of 360 degree detection and tracking of air and sea targets over the horizon. It can detect fighter aircraft size targets at 370 kms, while warships can be detected at a longer range.

A team of Brazilian manufacturers Embraer have visited Pakistan twice for the supply of six EMB-145s, four for the Pakistan Air Force and two for the Navy, The Nation

reported quoting top Pakistani Defence officials.

"Islamabad initiated its search for a suitable airborne early warning aircraft shortly after General Pervez Musharraf assumed power last year following reports that India was on the verge of acquiring two Russian Beriev A-50 mainstay AWACS on trial," the paper said.

The Brazilians told the Pakistani officials that they were prepared to supply the aircraft if Pakistan was able to make a down payment of ten per cent on the reported four bilion US dollar deal with the balance to be raised by Brazilian consortium of international commercial banks.

The paper claimed that the Indian Air Force had used the Beriev A-50 extensively to fly reconnaissance mission along the Indo-Pak border since April.

Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal, A Y Tipnis, had recently told newsmen that the IAF had after extensive trials found the Russian AWACS not suitable for Indian requirements.

Pakistani officials, quoted by The Nation

, said the Indians were continuing to fly the Russian A-50 even as they made abortive attempt to obtain a Boeing 707 based Phalcon EU2075 D-Band paired phase arrayed antenna conversion system from Israeli Elta aviation company.

Pakistani experts had given the green signal for the Erieye Brazilian AWACS claiming that they compared favourably with IAF Russian acquired A-50s which had a search radius of just 230 kms and 400 kms for ships.

"The Pakistani defence top brass" has accorded topmost priority to the EMB-145 system saying the Brazilian AWACS compared favourably even with Israeli Phalcons, with the two AWACS system having the same range of 370 kms airborne detection.

Pakistani experts also said that Brazilian EMB-145 system also had the capability of detecting small cruise missile like targets from a 200 kms range in ideal conditions.

Pakistani media reports said the deal had run into rough weather as the cash-starved government in Islamabad had been unable to raise even US $400 down payment and the US State Department was not allowing American banks to underwrite the deal.

The reports said that cautionary note was attached to the supply of the aircraft themselves as they are powered by US manufactured engines.

The newspaper said Pakistan Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee had evinced keen interest in acquisition of the AWACS way back in 1991, their first choice being the Swedish Ericcson system installed on six C-130 transport aircraft already in service with Pakistan Air Force.

But the fears in Islamabad were that the Swedish Government could also block the export of Ericcson system under its policy of not granting export licences for armaments being supplied to nations involved in regional disputes.

Pakistani defence sources maintain that the country's ruling Junta was determined to acquire the Brazilian aircraft saying it "remained on top of its procurement policy".

Brazil has recently deployed eight of EMB-145 under its programme to survey the entire Amazon basin.

Copyright © 2000 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.

[GoldenEagle]

khanasifm
Rank 5 Registered User Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: pi::
Posts: 13


EriEye Article in World Airpower Journal

· Range 450 km, limit was set in software by Swedish Air force (Software Controlled)
· In demo./test was able to track large high altitude target up to 500km
· Station altitude 8000m
· Uses NATO STD Mark XII IFF/SSR (Identification Friend/Foe, Secondary Search Radar)
· ELINT Task (Track and pulse description recording)
· Erieye Uses S-band 3Ghz narrow bean 1 degree, which is harder to jam.
· Swedish version has 120 degree each side of aircraft (plus/minus 120 degree, 240 degree) coverage and can track 300 air and 300 sea targets
· Brazilian version has 150 degree coverage
· Greece Erieye has 360-degree coverage and can track 1000 air and 1000 sea targets (track not search so able to provide all data).
· Further growth potential
· E2C APS145 can track 2000 (do not know if they add Air and Sea, Source manufacturer)
· Australian Widget tail can track 3000. (Source manufacturer)
· Russian A50 Early version detect 300 track 50-60 provide interception for 12-15, source another article)
· 3 aircraft are needed for 24 hours 1 patrol, can last up to 30 days.
· 2 a/c 75 nm station from base has 99% availability
· 4 a/c can provide 2 patrols with 1 on standby all times.
· Cost of ErieyeERJ145 ((on Compact a/c like ERJ145) $500/hour.
· E2C cost / hour is $2700 Vs E3C $8300
· High Altitude standard fighter (5m square RCS) range 350 km, Surface ship 320-350km
· Low flying cruise missile in ground clutter (<1m RCS) 150km
· ESC (Optional) has 450 km against standard fighter (RCS 5m sq.)
· IAI phalcon uses 1Ghz L band transmitter. Needs larger platform, its not complicated design but easy to jam since its bandwidth is 3 times of erieye S-band
· SAAB 2000 based Erieye revealed during Paris air show 2003.
· All platforms (SAAB 340, ERJ145 etc.) have > 8 hours station time (Design).
· RCS for F15 25m. Sq (Su27/30 Size Aircraft), F16, 1.5m sq., Mig21 3m sq., F18E/Rafel .75 m. Sq. (Other source)
__________________

[CAPTAIN-JI]

[B][B]What is the Phalcon?

The Phalcon is an Israeli manufactured Airborne Early Warning, Command and Control (AEWC&C) system. It is one of the most powerful such systems in the world. India is buying three of them for $1.1 billion (approximately Rs 5,000 crore or Rs 50 billion).

What does the Phalcon do?

It provides real time surveillance of a few hundred kilometres of territory and also command and control. It can pick up a low flying aircraft, a missile or communication and provide advance warning after correlation. It will help the Indian Air Force to maintain air superiority in a battle. It can pick up an incoming object in all weather conditions, reportedly up to some 300 miles. It can also pick up all sorts of communications from air, sea or land. All the information collected can be conveyed live to the control centre in the headquarters.

How does it pick up information of enemy objects in its area of coverage?

The Phalcon system has four sensors, which coordinate with each other. If one of the sensors picks up an incoming object or enemy communication it automatically co-relates with other sensors and reconfirm.

[/B]Most other AEWS are mechanically rotating antennas, or rotodomes, mounted on an aircraft. In the Phalcon it would be a stationary dome mounted on the aircraft and based on an Active Phased Array Electronic Scanning Technology. It would be able to track continuously any fast, high manoeuvring objects in much shorter period of time than the rotodome-based AWACS.

Does it only track incoming objects and communications?No. The Phalcon is also a full-fledged command and control centre mid-air that can be deployed to direct the aircraft, providing them a picture of the entire battlefield thus allowing them superiority over enemy fighters.

[/B]Neither have it. China was refused the Phalcon in 2000 even after they had paid an advance because of American objections. After India signed the agreement last week Pakistan has threatened to take 'appropriate steps' to match Indian capabilities.

Why is US permission so important for buying the Israeli manufactured product?America is Israel's key ally and a collaborator in Israel's development of several cutting edge military technologies. The Israeli Aircraft Industries, which produces the Phalcon, has an agreement with some European and US firms, including Raytheon for further research, development and marketing of the Phalcon. India too was given the Phalcon only after US permission. The US had threatened to withdraw financial assistance to Israel if it went ahead and fitted the system on a Chinese plane, which had landed in Israel in 2000.

Is India then the first country to get the Phalcon?

No. Countries such as Chile already have it. But India would be the first country to mate the Phalcon system on the Russian manufactured IL-76 plane. In fact there is a trilateral agreement between Israel, India and Russia on the project. Israel has given an undertaking to Russia not to reveal the technology of fitting it on an Ilyusin to any other country.

The Phalcon has been mounted on which other aircraft?
It can be mounted on various Boeings, C-130 and even an Airbus. Chile's Phalcon system, called Condor, is mounted on a modified Boeing 767.

[rafael_2k5]

Lets hope the piece of news is true since it would be pretty embrassin to learn that it has been refuted by Swedish authorities, plus the presence of AEW platform does give a tremendous boost to PAFs defensive capabilities, the qustion is not whether system A is suprior or B , In Indo-Pak confrontations the reaction time is short owing to close proximity of borders, so the presence AWACS would definitely give food for thought to IAF planners n top brass!!!!