What are AWACS aircraft, called ‘eyes in the sky’? India has destroyed one inside Pakistan; how many remain with Islamabad?

They track aircraft, missiles, and other threats across wide areas.

AWACS aircraft: Following Operation Sindoor in response to the Pahalgam terror attacks, Pakistan launched drone and missile attacks on several Indian cities but the Indian defence systems intercepted them, causing minimal damage. This further increased the hostility between the two neighbours. Now, there are reports that Indian armed forces shot down a Pakistani Air Force AWACS (Airborne Warning And Control Systems) aircraft, which was operating inside Punjab province in Pakistan.

This has brought to the notice the AWACS about which we have been hearing for a long time. Here we will discuss what exactly are AWACS aircraft.

What is AWACS?

AWACS are specialised planes fitted with a large rotating radar dome on top. These aircraft serve as early warning systems in the sky, detecting threats from much farther away than ground-based radars. It can be described as an airborne radar early warning system designed to detect aircraft, ships, vehicles, missiles and other incoming projectiles at long ranges, as well as performing command and control of the battlespace in aerial engagements by informing and directing friendly fighter and attack aircraft.

AWACS are also used to carry out aerial surveillance over ground and maritime targets and frequently perform battle management command and control. AWACS are capable of tracking much farther than land-based systems by staying airborne. This helps them to track aircraft, missiles, and other threats across wide areas.

How many AWACS does Pakistan have?

Pakistan currently operates nine AWACS aircraft. It bought four Saab-2000 Erieye planes from Sweden in 2006 and followed it up with an order for four ZDK-03 AWACS from China in 2008 which it retired in 2024.

Pakistan added three more Erieye aircraft, one batch in 2017, and another in 2020. With the Chinese ZDK-03s no longer in service, if India shot down a Pakistani AWACS, it is to be a Saab-2000 Erieye.

(Disclaimer: The above information is based on multiple media reports and sources. India.com does not independently verify these claims.)