(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) — Pakistan has quietly added another Saab 2000 “Erieye” Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEWC) aircraft, bringing the total number of Swedish-made AEWC aircraft owned by Pakistan Air Force (PAF) to nine currently.
According to local media reports, the latest Saab 2000 Erieye AEWC aircraft has been commissioned into the Pakistan Air Force along with several other assets, including recently acquired J-10C fighter jets and C-130H aircraft.
Pakistan initially ordered six Saab 2000 Erieye AEWC aircraft in 2006 but later reduced the order to four following a devastating earthquake in the country.
In 2012, three out of the four AEWC aircraft suffered damage after being attacked by terrorists at the Minhas Air Base, with one of them being decommissioned due to severe damage.
The Pakistan Air Force repaired two of the damaged Saab 2000 Erieye AEWC aircraft in 2015 and 2016.
The Saab 2000 Erieye AEWC aircraft owned by Pakistan is equipped with an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar system, providing it with the capability to detect objects at a range of up to 450 km.
Through data-link, all information captured by the sensors on the AEWC aircraft can be shared with air assets belonging to Thailand and friendly nations, aiding in addressing various potential threats.
In comparison to its counterpart, India, the Pakistan Air Force’s capability in the number of AEWC aircraft far surpasses that of the Indian Air Force.
Currently, the Indian Air Force only possesses three IL-76 Phalcon AEWC aircraft equipped with Israeli radar and components, and two “NETRA” AEWC aircraft developed by its own defense industry.
The possession of nine AEWC aircraft by Pakistan highlights India’s failure to match the number of AEWC aircraft in possession by Pakistan with the presence of nine AEWC aircraft enhances Islamabad’s fighter jets’ ability to dominate aerial warfare against enemy fighter aircraft.
Reports from Indian defense media suggest that the Saab 2000 Erieye AEWC aircraft has provided advantages to Pakistani fighter jets over Indian fighter jets, particularly in the aspect of aerial combat. — DSA