By A Correspondent / New Delhi
The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) headed by defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman On Friday approved Rs 3,600 crore proposal to buy 10 Kamov-31 AEW Helicopters from Russia for the Indian Navy.
According to sources these helicopters are critical for the Indian Navy as it helps in increasing the radar coverage and are more like an extra set of eyes. The radars onboard the ships have a limited ‘horizon’, which are not able to track low-flying targets, in particular anti-ship missiles.
For the first time the Indian Navy had ordered the Ka-31 AEW helicopters in 1999 and were deployed on board the INS Viraat aircraft carrier and other ships. There have been follow on orders and so far there are around 14 Ka-31 helicopters in service of the Indian Navy.
As has been reported by the Financial Express Online, the first IAC is expected to go for trials next year and subsequently getting inducted in service and will be based with the Eastern Naval Command (ENC). Building of infrastructure like berthing facilities and associated services for IAC-1 is already in process at the ENC.
The IAC-1 currently under construction in Kochi under the Maritime Capability Perspective Plan, which envisages a force level of three aircraft carriers to ensure availability of at least two Carrier Battle Groups at any given time. The aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya has already been inducted in line with this plan.
Last December making a strong pitch for the second IAC during his annual press conference, the Naval Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba had said that it was a decade away and the construction which will start in another 2-3 years will take at least 7-10 years for completion.