AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control Systems) were formally inducted in the Indian Air Force during May 2009, making India a member of a club of only 6 other nations that operate such a sophisticated air defence system. But beyond air defence, many critical issues are related to AWACS and hence being debated in appropriate circles. Tracing the history of Combat Support operations in the Indian Air Force, this book describes the evolution and operational employment of AWACS, highlights its strategic role in India’s national security and examines critically some of the related issues—comparison with other air defence systems, constraints in mountainous terrain, implications in case of AWACS symmetry, and vulnerabilities & protection. The book closes with preparing an integrated roadmap for AWACS/AEW&C development and employment in the Indian Air Force.

Commissioned into the Indian Air Force (IAF) in 1992, Wing Commander A.B.S. Chaudhry is a fighter pilot who has served in many operational squadrons of IAF.