EL/M-2075 Phalcon
The IAI EL/M-2075 Phalcon is an Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) radar system developed by Israeli Aircraft Industries (IAI) and Elta Electronics Industries of Israel. Its primary objective is to provide intelligence to maintain air superiority and conduct surveillance. According to the Federation of American Scientists in a 1999 article, the Phalcon was among the most advanced AEW&C systems in the world, [1] before the Boeing 737 AEW&C introduced in 2009.
The system is currently in-service with three countries — Israel, India and Chile — while one more — Singapore — has placed orders.
Design and features
The EL/M-2075 is a solid-state L-band conformal array radar system for use on a Boeing 707 and other aircraft. Phalcon, as the complete AEW mission suite is referred to, is intended for airborne early warning, tactical surveillance of airborne and surface targets and intelligence gathering. It also integrates the command and control capabilities needed to employ this information. The system uses six panels of phased-array elements: two on each side of the fuselage, one in an enlarged nosecone and one under the tail. Each array consists of 768 liquid-cooled, solid-state transmitting and receiving elements, each of which is weighted in phase and amplitude. These elements are driven by individual modules and every eight modules are connected to a transmit/receive group. Groups of 16 of these eight module batches are linked back to what is described as a prereceive/transmit unit, and a central six-way control is used to switch the pre-transmit/receive units of the different arrays on a time division basis. As used in its Chilean Boeing 707-based application, the lateral fairings measured approximately 12 × 2 m and were mounted on floating beds to prevent airframe flexing degrading the radar accuracy. Each array scans a given azimuth sector, providing a total coverage of 360°. Scanning is carried out electronically in both azimuth and elevation. Radar modes include high PRF search and full track, track-while-scan, a slow scan detection mode for hovering and low-speed helicopters (using rotor blade returns) and a low PRF ship detection mode.[2] Instead of using a rotodome, a moving radar found on some AEW&C aircraft, the Phalcon uses the Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA), an active phased array radar. This radar consists of an array transmit/receive (T/R) modules that allow a beam to be electronically steered, making a physically rotating rotodome unnecessary. AESA radars have very short to instantaneous scanning rates, which makes them difficult to detect. The radar can be mounted on the an aircraft's fuselage or on the top inside a small dome. Either position gives the radar 360 degree coverage. The phased array radar allows positions of aircraft on operator screens to be updated every 2-4 seconds, rather than every 20-40 seconds as is the case on the rotodome AWACS. [3]
Platforms
The system can be fitted to a number of aircraft, including the Boeing 707, Boeing 767, Boeing 747, Airbus series aircraft, Gulfstream G550 and Ilyushin Il-76. Under a contract signed with Chile in 1989, the first Phalcon system to be installed was fitted to a former LanChile Boeing 707, and was first flown in 1993 In May 1994 the aircraft was delivered to the Chilean Air Force, where it is known as the Condor.
Operational history
The Israeli Air Force has purchased 3 Gulfstream G550 aircraft to serve as the new IDF platform for the Phalcon system.[4] The system is called Eitam. Extensive modifications made to the Gulfstream's fuselage, such as the addition of protruding composite radomes, are intended to allow for the housing of the radar arrays. In 2007, 4 similar G550-Phalcon aircraft were also purchased by the Republic of Singapore Air Force, to eventually replace its ageing E-2C Hawkeyes. All 4 G550s are expected to be in-service by 2010.[5]
China's purchase of the Phalcon system in 2000 was denied due to pressure from the United States.
Sale to India
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In March 2004, Israel and India signed a US$1.1 billion deal according to which IAI would deliver the Indian Air Force three Phalcon AEW&C radar systems.[6] India signed a separate deal with the Ilyushin Corporation of Russia for the of supply three Il-76 A-50 heavy air-lifters, which were to be used as platforms for these radar systems, for an additional US $500 million.
In November 2007, Indian defense officials said that there were significant delays in the supply of the Russian Il-76 platform and the induction of the radar was now postponed to 2009-10.[7] In June 2008, media reports suggested that India and Israel were about to sign a deal for three additional Phalcon radars.
India received its first AWACS on 25th May 2009. It landed in Jamnagar AFB in Gujarat completing its 8 hour long journey from Israel. [8]
Operators
Israel - Three newer variants with EL/M 2085 dual band radar ("Eitam") in service on Gulfstream G550 platforms. Older variants on Boeing 707 Platforms are also in service.
Chile - One in service on a Boeing 707 platform.
India - One in Service & two ordered on an Il-76 platform. 3 more might be ordered soon, however on a separate platform like the Embraer or Gulfstream 550. [9]
Singapore - Four ordered on Gulfstream G550 platform. Each costing approx USD 375 million[citation needed] [10]
Comparable systems
References
- ^ http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ac/row/phalcon.htm
- ^ Janes Avionics http://www.janes.com/extracts/extract/jav/jav_0468.html
- ^ [1]
- ^ "Israel to receive the first of three Eitam AEW aircraft". RF Design Magazine. February 13, 2008. Retrieved 2008-07-11.
- ^ Flight International: Singapore confirms new AEW purchase
- ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3536901.stm
- ^ http://www.janes.com/news/defence/systems/jdw/jdw071121_1_n.shtml
- ^ http://www.hindu.com/2009/05/26/stories/2009052655811000.htm
- ^ Beriev Press Release
- ^ https://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htecm/20070426.aspx Singapore to get new AWACS