PAF’s eye in the sky
Sultan M Hali
Pakistan’s quest for airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) system dates back to over two decades and a half. An AEW&C system is an airborne radar system designed to detect aircraft and missiles. Employed at a high altitude, the radars allow the operators to distinguish between friendly and hostile aircraft hundreds of miles away. AEW&C aircraft are used for defensive and offensive air operations. The system is used offensively to direct fighters to their target locations, and defensively to counter attacks. It can also be used to carry out surveillance, and C2BM (command and control, battle management) functions.
In the mid eighties, when Soviet and Afghan hostile air intrusion over Pakistan territory had increased tremendously, Pakistan was in desperate need for AEW&C systems, which were then known by the now archaic term AWACS (airborne warning and control system). Pakistan turned to the US for the acquisition of E-3A Sentry AWACS, to thwart the Soviet designs. The rugged terrain of the Pak-Afghan border region precluded the use of traditional early warning systems and it was difficult for the PAF air defence system to track and intercept the intruders without the aid of AWACS, however, the US turned down Pakistan’s request and instead offered a scaled down system, the E-2C Hawkeye optimized for surveillance over the sea, which the PAF declined. Mounting regular Combat Air Patrol (CAP) missions comprising F-16s mounted with Air to Air Sidewinder missiles, the PAF managed to shoot down a number of Soviet and Afghan intruders and keep them at bay. The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan ended in 1988 but PAF’s quest for a suitable AEW&C System continued; especially in view of India opting for Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) Phalcon system, mounted on the Russian origin IL-76 platform. Earlier, India’s Defense Research and Development Organization [DRDO] tried developing an advanced surveillance platform based on an HS-748 aircraft but the 12 January 1999 crash of the prototype resulted in a major setback.
Hectic efforts were made for the procurement of a suitable AEW&C System by PAF but imposition of sanctions deterred the process. Once the situation was conducive, after careful study of the available systems, its defence budget allocation and the impending threat, PAF opted to induct four Swedish ERIEYE system mounted on the Saab 2000 turboprop aircraft. The contract for procurement of Saab Surveillance Systems with M/s Saab AB of Sweden was signed in October, 2005. Due to consistent hard work and full cooperation extended by both sides, PAF and Saab achieved a remarkable feat by successfully inducting the first Saab 2000 AEW&C Aircraft in PAF within just 3½ years while the remaining three aircraft are planned to be inducted in 2010. These 3½ years saw a conception coming to the drawing board and materializing into a realistic capability.
The ERIEYE radar has an instrumental range of 450km and detection range of 350km against a fighter aircraft sized target in dense hostile electronic warfare environments and at low target altitudes. The system is capable of tracking multiple air and sea target including the detection of hovering helicopters and tracking small naval targets over the horizon and providing above 20km altitude coverage, 360° coverage and is equipped with sea surveillance capability. The radar incorporates an identification friend or foe (IFF) interrogator. The system comprises an active phased array pulse Doppler radar with a secondary surveillance radar. It provides the PAF with a multitude of applications, which range from AEW&C to National security missions, Border control, Airborne C2 platform, Disaster management co-ordination, Major event security, and Emergency Air Traffic Control (ATC). This modern system enables Pakistan to have numerous advantages.
First, the Saab 2000 ERIEYE system will be able to detect all aircraft taking off and landing at all Forward Indian airbases adjacent to Pakistan. Additionally, they can identify the type of aircraft operating, the weapons systems they are equipped with, the vector they are heading and the altitude they are operating at. The radar capabilities and range of the system enables its operator to receive early warning in case of pre-emptive attacks from across the border. Secondly, these aircraft will coordinate with PAF air traffic operating simultaneously from several air bases. Thirdly, PAF’s AEW&C system will allow Pakistani fighter aircraft to fly without operating their own radars and, thereby, making it difficult for unfriendly forces to track them.
Fourthly, the Saab AEW&C will coordinate with the army in missions for Cobra gunship that regularly take on extremist elements on the Pakistani-Afghan border besides airlifting operations. Finally, the AEW&C will be able to check air violations by enemy aircraft and launching of missiles within its range. Also, it can apparently track communications on the ground, troop movement, radars, missile sites and movement of ships.
The Saab 2000 ERIEYE system is equipped with a very effective Electronic warfare suite, which comprises electronic support measures (ESM) and self-protection suite; a ground-based support system (EGSS), which provides mission data for the aircraft electronic warfare system and for analysis of recorded data. The ESM obtains the electronic order of battle (EOB) data and intercepts, characterizes and identifies signals, defines their direction of arrival, generating and displaying warning information. The ESM system operates autonomously and allows real time ESM analysis and presentation to the ESM operator on board the aircraft. ESM data is recorded during missions for post mission tactical and technical analysis. Information is transferred to other onboard systems including the command and control system and the radio data link-controller. The ESM’s wide band and narrow band receivers provide 360° coverage, and close to 100% probability of intercept. The system provides high sensitivity and selectivity in dense and hostile signal environments.
In effect, with the induction of the SAAB 2000 ERIEYE AEW&C System Pakistan Air Force has a acquired a major force multiplier. Once the full complement is received, it will introduce a new dimension to PAF’s capabilities, providing it with a top-of-the-line platform to deal with modern-day threats in the most effective manner. Thus the PAF will be able to fulfill its promise of providing a vigilant eye in the sky, which will function as an effective air shield for Pakistan and deter any would be aggressors.
