The Indian Air Force formally inducted into service its first A-50EI AEW&C aircraft (modified II-76 air-frame carrying the IAI Elta PHAL-CON radar) in a ceremony held at Palam airbase on 28 May 2009.The event was attended by the Defence Minister Shri AK Antony and other dignitaries including among others Ambassadors Konstantin Vasikiev and Mark Soffer of Russia and Israel respectively, Chief of the Air Staff ACM FH Major, CAS Designate Air Marshal PV Naik, Defence Secretary Shri Vijay Singh, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Western and Central Air Command and other senior officials and personnel of the AEW&C Squadron.rnThe aircraft will be deployed in Agra with lAF's 50 Squadron under Allahabad-based Central Air Command but will be assigned tasks directly by the Air Headquarters. Op-rnerational flights are expected to start in late September or early October, at which point the aircraft will be effectively integrated with the Air Force's AFNET network, including the IACCS (Integrated Air Command and Control System) and ODL (Operational Data Link).
展开▼
