Israel presented cheap AWACS plane
The DRLOI aircraft market is very similar to a closed country club with an expensive entrance ticket. In most cases, buyers prefer to give preference primarily to American systems, and political considerations play a major role. In the UK, for example, the tender was not held in principle.
The Israeli company Elta decided to change the situation on the market by joining with the Brazilian Ember for marketing a combined product called P600 AEW. The Israelis decided to reduce the cost of the final product by reducing the cost of the main platform and reducing the cost of equipment by choosing the type of radar.
Cheap DRLOI
The P600 AEW is a light early warning radar aircraft based on the Embraer Praetor 600 business jet. The take-off weight of this aircraft is 19,5 tons, its cost per 2018 year was 21 million dollars. If you focus on your closest competitors, then the Gulfstream G550, on the basis of which the Air Force Nachshon Aitam was created by the Israel Air Force, costs 61,5 million dollars with twice the take-off weight. The cost of operating the aircraft is also much cheaper.
The P600 AEW uses radar with an active phased-array antenna (AESA). Its feature is a new type of “tiled” antenna, which allows to reduce the number of receiving-transmitting modules, while not losing in the range and quality of bearing of objects. Due to this, the total cost of a system with two antennas, with a viewing angle of 240 degrees, is significantly reduced.
Maximum flexibility
As part of the work of the new consortium, Embraer will be responsible for the platform itself, its maintenance, system integration with aircraft systems and communications. Elta, in turn, provides the radar, is responsible for electronic systems and their overall integration.
The platform is a fairly flexible constructor, to which, on request, you can add an electronic intelligence system with the possibility of warning of radar exposure, an advanced communication system (with the ability to connect to satellite communications and data networks, as well as the integration of your own-alien system and control.
- said Jackson Schneider, President and CEO of Embraer Defense & Security.
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