Russia to provide after-sale-service to Indian AWACS aircraft

Moscow, Sep 8 (UNI) Russian state arms export agency, Rosoboronexport, today said it had contracted a number of domestic companies to provide after-sale-service to India's A-50 AWACS aircraft.

''Rosoboronexport has signed contracts with the Beriev Aircraft Company, the Perm Motors Group and the Vega concern to provide after-sale-service to India's airborne early warning aircraft,'' a Rosoboronexport official told RIA Novosti news agency.

The A-5o Mainstay is a Russian AWACS aircraft based on the Ilyushin Il-76 transport plane. It entered service with the Russian Air Force in 1984, and about 40 aircraft had been produced by 1992.

In 2001, India ordered three A-50EI variant fitted with the Israeli-made Phalcon radar system from Russia.

The first aircraft was scheduled to arrive in 2007-08, but has been delayed.

According to various sources, the Russian Air Force has 16-19 AWACS aircraft.

Russia is currently developing a modernised version of the A-50 plane, which features an improved radar system and more sophiticated and powerful PS-90A engines.

UNI XC RJ KP1618