The first AEW system, slated for installation on an Il-76 air transport,
was meant for delivery in September 2008. The other two platforms were
expected to arrive in India in 2009 and 2010 as part of a $1.1 billion
project.
The sources said an Indian Air Force team has attended demonstrations of
the Phalcon. The team also traveled to Russia for flight tests of the Il-76
platform, which took place in 2008.
New Dehli has sought to purchase another three Phalcon systems at the
2004 price of about $400 million per unit. The sources said India could
submit an additional order of Phalcon in early 2009.
"The Phalcon negotiations are in the advanced stage," the source said.
The sources said India was ready to order the same Phalcon configuration
as in the 2004 deal. This would include the L-band phased array radar, with
a range of 400 kilometers, as well as electronic intelligence and
communications.