IAF Electronic Warfare Suites: The Indian Defence Ministry has secured a significant deal with Bharat BEL, a company based in Bengaluru. They will equip Mi-17 V5 helicopters with advanced Electronic Warfare (EW) Suites and aircraft modification kits, along with associated equipment.
This upgrade, costing Rs 2,385.36 crore, aims to bolster the Indian Air Force’s capabilities. Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh attended the contract signing, which underscored the government’s commitment to “Buy (Indian-Indigenously Designed Developed and Manufactured)” products.
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This state-of-the-art EW Suite will greatly improve the helicopters’ ability to survive in dangerous situations. The Ministry stated, the state-of-the-art EW Suite will considerably enhance operational survivability of the helicopters in hostile environment. Notably, the majority of the components will come from Indian manufacturers, promoting domestic industry.
According to Asianet Newsable, this project will actively involve Indian electronics companies and related industries, including small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). “The project will boost and encourage active participation of Indian electronics and associated industries, including MSMEs,” the Ministry explained.
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The Mi-17 V5, a versatile medium-lift helicopter, will receive the EW suites. These suites include a Radar Warning Receiver (RWR), a Missile Approach Warning System (MAWS), and a Counter Measure Dispensing System (CMDS). The integrated EW suite will give pilots the ability to detect, identify, prioritize, and display threats from radars and missiles, both airborne and ground-based.
The government emphasizes the development of indigenous EW capabilities. “The Suite for Mi-17 V5 is a significant leap forward in developing indigenous EW capabilities,” the Ministry concluded.
