Report: India wants to convert Airbus passenger jets into military planes
The Indian Defense Ministry plans to convert six Airbus A320 passenger jets into military early warning planes by installing radar systems that will be able to scan wide areas
Dan Arkin
| 20/12/2020
https://www.airbus.com/aircraft/passenger-aircraft/a320-family.html
The Indian Defense Ministry plans to convert six Airbus A320 passenger jets into military early warning planes by installing radar systems that will be able to scan wide areas and manage battles at potential times of conflict in the future. The Indian press reports that the aim is to expand the surveillance and electronic warning capabilities.
The Times of India reported that the six planes will be supplied by national airline Air India, with the Defense Ministry having calculated and found that this plan would be more cost-effective than the acquisition of two new A330 planes for military use, as was done for a previous program. European corporation Airbus has previously offered variants of early warning planes based on the A330 but has yet to find a customer.
The Drive website reports that the project for the six A320 planes will cost $1.4 billion, with delivery to be made within four to seven years. Official approval for the program has yet to be received, but it is believed that the government's Defense Acquisition Council will give approval soon. The passenger planes will be equipped with active electronically scanned array radar made by the Defense Research and Development Organization, the Indian government's R&D corporation. The Indian press reported that the conversion will be carried out at the Airbus facilities in France, with special antennas to be attached to the back of the planes.
The Indian Defense Ministry is preparing for the possibility of conflicts with China or Pakistan, and thus aims to acquire the early warning planes in a relatively quick way. Pakistan has eight early warning planes based on Swedish Saab 2000 planes and the Chinese ZDK-03, while the Chinese Air Force has 30 early warning planes of various variants.
The Indian Defense Ministry plans to convert six Airbus A320 passenger jets into military early warning planes by installing radar systems that will be able to scan wide areas
https://www.airbus.com/aircraft/passenger-aircraft/a320-family.html
The Indian Defense Ministry plans to convert six Airbus A320 passenger jets into military early warning planes by installing radar systems that will be able to scan wide areas and manage battles at potential times of conflict in the future. The Indian press reports that the aim is to expand the surveillance and electronic warning capabilities.
The Times of India reported that the six planes will be supplied by national airline Air India, with the Defense Ministry having calculated and found that this plan would be more cost-effective than the acquisition of two new A330 planes for military use, as was done for a previous program. European corporation Airbus has previously offered variants of early warning planes based on the A330 but has yet to find a customer.
The Drive website reports that the project for the six A320 planes will cost $1.4 billion, with delivery to be made within four to seven years. Official approval for the program has yet to be received, but it is believed that the government's Defense Acquisition Council will give approval soon. The passenger planes will be equipped with active electronically scanned array radar made by the Defense Research and Development Organization, the Indian government's R&D corporation. The Indian press reported that the conversion will be carried out at the Airbus facilities in France, with special antennas to be attached to the back of the planes.
The Indian Defense Ministry is preparing for the possibility of conflicts with China or Pakistan, and thus aims to acquire the early warning planes in a relatively quick way. Pakistan has eight early warning planes based on Swedish Saab 2000 planes and the Chinese ZDK-03, while the Chinese Air Force has 30 early warning planes of various variants.
