Centre nods Rs 11,000 cr air surveillance project of DRDO for IAF

13 Sep 2021 CW Team

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) approved a nearly Rs 11,000 crore project of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) to develop six new Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft for the Indian Air Force.

It is in addition to the nearly $3 billion agreement for acquiring 56 C-295MW transport aircraft for the IAF, which was also approved by the Committee, to replace the ageing fleet of Avro 748 transport aircraft that first flew in 1961.

According to the media, while the CCS decision on the C-295 was the budgetary clearance for the actual signing of the agreement, the Committee has approved the Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for the DRDO project.

It implies that the DRDO will now be able to launch a Request for Proposal (RFP) for further work on the aircraft. As per the plan, the six will be taken from the Air India fleet, which suggests they will be A-319s and A-321 variants.

The original plan, which had also obtained an AON approval, was to acquire two larger A-330 jets, which were then to be revised and fitted with the AEW&C systems.

The six Airbus aircraft will be modified now, and the indigenous Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar will be installed on them.

The DRDO will issue RFP floating tenders for modification for the six-passenger aircraft. As Airbus is the original equipment manufacturer (OEM), the company is the frontrunner to win the contract.

Majority share of the Rs 11,000 crore will go in for modification and installing of the systems.

The actual cost of the aircraft is lower and would come to around Rs 1,100 crore for the six as this is a book transfer within the government itself.

Image Source

Also read: Indian Air Force gets advanced chaff technology developed by DRDO
Also read: Emergency landing strips for IAF to be built in 15 days: Nitin Gadkari

Infrastructure Urban

09 Jan 2026

Mount Invests Rs 250 Cr, Adds PUF & PEB Plants, 400+ Jobs

TUMKUR, Karnataka, January 8, 2025 - Mount Roofing & Structures Private Limited, one of India's fastest-growing manufacturers in PUF and a leading solutions provider across Pre-Engineered Building (PEB) and Polycarbonate sheets, simultaneously inaugurated its second fully automated continuous Sandwich Panel manufacturing line and a new PEB manufacturing plant at its integrated campus in Tumkur." The milestone expansion, part of a total investment of INR 250 crores, marks a significant advancement in the company's commitment to engineered performance, manu..

Titan Intech Strengthens UltraLED Push With Global LED Veteran

Titan Intech has announced the induction of global LED industry veteran Su Piow Ko to its Board of Directors, marking a strategic step in strengthening its UltraLED Displays roadmap and building globally competitive LED display solutions from India.The appointment aligns with Titan Intech’s ambition to position India as a hub for advanced, high-quality LED display manufacturing. With an increased focus on UltraLED Displays, the company aims to enhance technical governance, raise manufacturing standards and expand its presence across global markets.Su Piow Ko brings over three decades of inte..

Dun & Bradstreet Flags New Growth Engines in India 2026 Outlook

Dun & Bradstreet has released its India 2026: D&B’s Perspective report, projecting a stable macroeconomic environment underpinned by fresh opportunities for productivity-led and inclusive growth. The report outlines how India’s next growth phase will be driven by digitised logistics, trusted data ecosystems, clean energy and rising city vitality.According to the outlook, India’s GDP growth is expected to reach around 6.6 per cent by FY2027, supported by resilient consumer demand and sustained public investment. Manufacturing is seen entering a new phase, moving beyond scale towar..