+
Centre nods Rs 11,000 cr air surveillance project of DRDO for IAF
AVIATION & AIRPORTS

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

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

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

Next Story
Real Estate

Heena Lalwani Buys Rs 1.13 Billion Juhu Apartment

Heena Lalwani, promoter of Aatman Innovations Private Limited, has purchased a luxury apartment worth Rs 1.13 billion in Mumbai’s upscale Juhu locality, according to property registration documents accessed by Zapkey.com.The 9,862 sq ft apartment, located on the 10th floor of Lodha Developers’ Avalon Tower, was acquired at Rs 115,000 per sq ft and comes with five car parking spaces. The deal, registered on 18 August 2025, also included the payment of Rs 68 million in stamp duty and a Rs 30,000 registration fee.Lodha Developers did not respond to queries regarding the transaction, while the..

Next Story
Real Estate

Godrej Buys KPHB Land for Rs 7 Billion in E-Auction

An acre of prime land in Kukatpally Housing Board (KPHB), Hyderabad, was auctioned for Rs 7 billion, with the Telangana Housing Board generating Rs 5.47 billion from the sale of 7.8 acres through e-auction on 20 August 2025.The auction notification was issued last month, attracting bids from Godrej Properties, Aurobindo Realty, Prestige Estates, and Ashoka Builders, according to Board vice-chairman V.P. Gautham. With an offset price of Rs 4 billion per acre, the three-hour auction saw 46 bid increases, before Godrej Properties acquired the land.Revenue generated from the auction will be utilis..

Next Story
Real Estate

HMDA to Auction 93 Prime Plots in September

The Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) is preparing to conduct a three-day auction of prime open plots across Hyderabad, Rangareddy, and Medchal-Malkajgiri districts this September.According to official reports, the e-auction will take place on 17, 18, and 19 September, offering 93 plots. Of these, 70 are located in the Bachupally HMDA layout, with the remainder spread across Turkayamjal, Kokapet, Poppalguda, Chandanagar, Bairagiguda, Gandi Maisamma, Suraram, Medipally, and Bachupally village.The highest upset price has been fixed at Rs 175,000 per square yard for a land parce..

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Talk to us?