Pakistan’s AEW&C Platform Detailed

On the day the Phalcons were formally commissioned into Indian service, PAF chief Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman said it would trigger an arms race (maybe there will come a time when a PAF chief is more than a flunky to the Pak Army-ISI). Well, the first PAF Saab 2000-based Erieye airborne early warning and control aircraft will be delivered to Pakistan by October-November. Are there any credible comparisons out there between the Erieye and the Phalcon?
Photos ©Copyright Saab

15 thoughts on “Pakistan’s AEW&C Platform Detailed”

  1. Erieye has ~1000 T/R modules in its AESA radar, 5 operator consoles, provides 300 degree coverage and flys at 30,000 feet providing 330km(max) detection range against targets flying at sea level.

    Phalcon by comparison has 4604 T/R modules, 12-16 operators, 360 degree coverage and flys at 40,000 feet providing 400km(max) detection range against targets flying at sea level.

    IL-76 Phalcon is comparable to 3 Saab 2000 Eryies both in capability and cost.

  2. But one Phalcon can not be at two places at the same time! Also SAAB-2000/Erieye requires less maintenance (hence greater availability rate) and don’t forget that PAF Erieye is being also fully integrated with their ADGE which means radar controllers on the ground can also see the radar picture and control interceptions. Both systems (Phalcon and Erieye) have their plus and minuses, depends on what extacly you are looking for.

  3. Our phalcon will be linked with ground controllers via data 2 LINK connection & if i am not wrong, phalcon is also abled to provide radar picture & control interception to ground controllers via data 2 link.Our A-50E/phalcon is far superior than SAAB 2000 & KJ-200 AEW&C in terms of detection range,jamming power & flight endurance & we have enough money to buy 9 large AEW&C platforms,so there is no comparison between IAF& PAF's AEW capabilities.

  4. The Erieye is suitable for the PAF because it has lighter and smaller fighters to "vector" like the F-16 and JF-17, while the IL-76 Phalcon is more suited for the IAF, because it can "vector" air superiority fighters like Su-30MKI.

  5. How much does an Agni missile cost? I am wondering what happens if we fire an Agni at the PAF AEWC system to take it out? Or atleast one of the multiple warheads of the Agni can hit it. Even if one Agni costs $10 million, I think it is worth it if we can destroy the AEW&C. Can the Agni be modified to hit airborne targets that travel at speeds of 900 kph?

    Ofcourse, the same is true for PAF and nothing stops them from firing a ballistic missile at the Phalocn. That's why we need the AAD as soon as possible

  6. Its quite difficult for ballistic missiles to hit airborne targets. Even landbased ones have accuracy problems of about +/- 50m. Cruise missiles can have a possibility, but it can be got down by escort fighters accompanying AWACS.
    By the way since PAF AWACS hav shorter range, a full fledged aerial strike (with more 25 jets)can be carried out wihtout much much problems.

  7. does the lavatory have doors? why is it kept behind the first officer's seat ? is it because paki pilots shit all over the place when the see a PHALCON? and one more thing ….how do they dispose off the shit? is it stored in the fuel tanks or is it directed all the way back to the galley?

  8. Nice!

    The A-50E Phalcon is one true AWACS, one that will provide the Indian Air Force with airborne radar coverage for the next 40-50 years.

  9. Fiarly moronic comments belittling the other side. Erieye is a capability that will suffice for Pakistan. Comparing one vs. the other really is a childish endeavor because the reality is that both sides now have a viable and serious EW capability. It matters little that the Pakistani AEW is not full 360 degree coverage given the threat to them is from the Eastern borders only. Unlike a situation where USAF and NATO E3s have to manage a dense air corridor (as in Gulf War), Pakistani and Indian airspace even in times of war will not very dense tracks to manage all around. Aircraft will most probably fly away from expected directions to another set of expected vectors…this is something that Erieye can very easily handle. With an order of 4-5 Erieyes and potentially Chinese AEW platforms, they will have more than adequate early warning in place against any IAF aircraft. The endurance of the aircraft is considerable and the range is adequate to give them early warning about any of the IAF aircraft taking off from bases at least 150 miles inside of India even if the Erieyes are deployed deep inside central Punjab or in NWFP given the limited breadth of Pakistan.

  10. Main thing to remember is that the Erieyes/Phalcon makes the fighter radars almost irrelevant….for example now the JF17 will know the postion of SU30 almost at the same time as SU30 knows the postion of JF17. Also remember PAK airspace is small and you only need two of these machines up to have the full coverage. I think the IAF have lost some of their advantage due tot he introduction of AWAC capability into the region.

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