India is developing nine indigenous advanced airborne warning and control system (AWACS) and is expected to flight test the first of them by the end of 2011.

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) chief controller, R&D (aerospace and services interaction) Prahlada said five laboratories of the DRDO were working to develop the system, which will be 85% indigenous.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) will integrate three AWACS with Embraer EMB 145 jets, to be delivered by 2014, according to the Hindu.

The DRDO has already received approval to develop the six AWACS at a cost of Rs100bn ($2.2bn).

The delivery of the AWACS, which will be used for air defence, surveillance and network-centric operations, will begin in 2015.