AWACS Sale: Israel Snubs China; Pushes New Delhi for A Billion Dollar Deal

Israel has been pushing India to finalise a long-stalled deal worth $2 Billion that includes the purchase of Airborne Early-Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft and jointly manufacturing of arms supplies and defense equipment. This is also because the delay would cause the cost to increase. 

AWACS are key systems of modern warfare as they can detect and track incoming fighters, cruise missiles, and drones much before ground-based radars direct friendly fighters during air combat with enemy jets. 

An Indian journalist in Jerusalem was quoted by British media who asserted that it was rational to associate the acquisition with the prevailing conditions between China and India in Ladakh. That is because the purchased AWACS are already monitoring Pakistan’s airspace and “Under these circumstances, it can be estimated where the next two AWACs will be deployed.”  

What was the China Israel deal and why did it fail?

Israel did not sell the AWACS to the Chinese under US pressure because the Israel-made plane would have given a strategic advantage to the Chinese over American aircraft if any conflict were to happen over Taiwan. This led to the downgrade in China-Israel ties. But since America had helped Israel in the annexation of the West Bank, Jerusalem couldn't afford to weaken ties.

India and AWACS

Following the Balakot air strikes that targeted terrorist camps across the Line of Control by the Indian Air Force in February 2019, Pakistan tried to target Indian military installations in Jammu and Kashmir, but was repulsed. The next day, Pakistan, which operates about 10 AWACS, took advantage of the system and succeeded in downing the Indian MiG-21 Bison in aerial combat, explains S. Alex Philip, former Pakistan Correspondent.

So, it is significant for India that it too should acquire more AWACS to keep a tab on enemy troop movements and their built-ups. India currently possesses three Phalcon AWACS, with a 400-km range and 360-degree coverage, and two indigenous “Netra” AEW&C aircraft, with indigenous 240-degree coverage radars with a 250-km range fitted on smaller Brazilian Embraer-145 jets.

The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) has now given the go-ahead for the deal with Israel. So the new Phalcon radar will be mounted on a Russian A-50 aircraft. Since the delivery of the complete system will take two to three years..