Platform profile · India · Heavy airborne warning and control system aircraft · Indian Air Force
IAI ELW-2090 Phalcon Airborne Warning and Control System
StableThe three-aircraft fleet remained operational in 2026 and a Phalcon participated in an India-Thailand air exercise on 2026-02-11.
The Indian Air Force fielded a Phalcon AWACS in a joint in-situ air exercise with the Royal Thai Air Force on 11 February 2026, and open reporting in June 2026 still counted three aircraft. The fleet combines Israeli IAI ELW-2090 mission systems with Russian A-50EI and IL-76 airframes to provide 360-degree strategic surveillance, battle management, ELINT, COMINT and broadband data links. The original three-aircraft contract was signed on 5 March 2004, and the first two systems were delivered on 25 May 2009 and 25 March 2010 before the fleet reached three aircraft in 2011. Proposed two-aircraft follow-ons were reported as approved or near approval in 2016 and 2020, but no signed follow-on contract was confirmed in the sources opened for this entry. Phalcon remains India's heavy airborne command-and-control tier, but the unchanged three-aircraft fleet makes the expansion of indigenous Netra systems operationally important.
Updated 25 Jun 2026
Verified figures
Specifications
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Airframe | Russian A-50EI based on the IL-76 heavy military transport ↗ |
| Mission system | IAI ELTA ELW-2090 Phalcon ↗ |
| Indian fleet | 3 aircraft ↗ |
| Radar | Active electronically scanned array ↗ |
| Radar coverage | 360 degrees ↗ |
| Reported radar range | 400 km in Indian service reporting ↗ |
| Surveillance domains | Wide-area persistent air and ground surveillance ↗ |
| Identification friend or foe | Integrated AESA IFF ↗ |
| Electronic intelligence | ESM and ELINT suite ↗ |
| Communications intelligence | CSM and COMINT suite ↗ |
| Data links | Multiple broadband data links ↗ |
| Defensive equipment | Self-protection suite plus operator and communications stations ↗ |
Spec sources: iai.co.il ↗ · idsa.in ↗ · newindianexpress.com ↗ · timesofindia.indiatimes.com ↗
Changelog
Program timeline
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Indian reporting on the Netra clearance documented that the Indian Air Force's heavy AWACS fleet still comprised three Phalcon aircraft.
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An Indian Air Force Phalcon AWACS participated with Su-30MKI, Netra AEW&C and IL-78 aircraft in a joint in-situ air exercise with Royal Thai Air Force Gripens.
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An IAF AWACS supported Exercise Desert Knight over the Arabian Sea with French and Emirati aircraft.
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An IAF AWACS participated in the two-week Indo-French Exercise Garuda VII at Jodhpur alongside fighters, a tanker and an AEW&C aircraft.
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Indian media reported that a roughly $1 billion acquisition of two upgraded Phalcon aircraft was nearing Cabinet Committee on Security consideration; no signed contract was confirmed in the sources opened for this entry.
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IAF AWACS supported a 4,000 km maritime strike mission and joint operations on the western seaboard during Exercise Gagan Shakti.
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Specialist reporting said the government had cleared two additional Phalcon aircraft at $1.1 billion under a tripartite arrangement with Israel and Russia.
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The Indian Air Force began the cross-country Exercise Live Wire, which ran through 9 April and included redeployment and employment of the A-50EI Phalcon fleet.
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Delivery of the three-aircraft Il-76/Phalcon fleet was completed during 2011 under the 2004 trilateral programme.
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The second of three contracted Phalcon AWACS aircraft was formally delivered to the Indian Air Force under the revised schedule.
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The first Indian Phalcon AWACS was delivered and landed at Jamnagar after flying from Ovda, Israel, escorted on the final leg by Indian fighters.
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India signed the contract with Israel's Elta for three Phalcon AWACS aircraft; the initial package was valued at $1.1 billion.
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