Aero India 2025: Why is an Airbus A321-211 flying with Indian Air Force?
An Airbus A321-211 with a partial, retro Air India livery was spotted at the on-going Aero India 2025 show. What is this civilian airliner doing at the hands of Indian Air Force (IAF)?
The Aero India 2025 exhibition-cum-air show that is currently underway at Yelahanka Air Force Station, Bengaluru is evoking great awe and surprise for many visitors. The aerial display of a variety of aircrafts and fighter jets are exciting the aviation enthusiasts in the country.
That way, at today’s air show, a mundane-yet-mysterious aircraft caught the attention of the audience. It’s an Airbus A321-211 civilian aircraft with IAF name stamp on it, although covered in old Air India livery. This took the show audience and social media by surprise, wondering what that seems like a used commercial jet doing in military hands.
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The fact of the matter is that not just this one aircraft, the IAF currently has six Airbus A321-211s in fold! There aircrafts were previously operated by Air India and were sold to the Indian Ministry of Defence in 2021. IAF initially used these aircrafts for troop transportation and even on few strategic missions.
Surveillance birds
However, there is more than what meets the eye. These passenger aircrafts were not inducted for airlifting troops in the first place. Instead, they are part of India’s project to build six Airborne Early Warning & Control System (AEW&C) aircrafts for IAF at the cost of USD 130 million. Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has been identified as the prime contractor for the project.
Since 2021, these A321-211s were undergoing significant upgrades at Airbus facilities in France. After essential modifications and addition of military-grade avionics, they were sent to DRDO for the the fitment of radars and equipment that are part of the next-generation AEW&C system called as NETRA Mk 2. The conversion is expected to be completed by this year.
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Once ready, these Airbus A321-211s will be pressed into sophisticated aerial surveillance and reconnaissance roles for defence forces. IAF already has two class of AEW&C aircrafts. One being the Israeli ‘Phalcon‘ AEW&C systems in three Ilyushin Il-76 aircrafts. The other is two Embraer ERJ145SM aircrafts with ‘NETRA’ AEW&C systems.
Considering the longer airframe, better max take-off weight, operational efficiency and extended flying range of the A321-211s, the new surveillance aircrafts in the making will bolster the air defence capabilities of the Indian forces. The aircrafts are powered by CFM56-5B3 turbofan engines.
Image Credit: r/IndianDefense via Reddit.com
