Context
India’s intelligence agency Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) is acquiring two Bombardier-5000 spy jets. Israeli company ELTA will equip the planes with multipurpose and state of the art airborne reconnaissance and surveillance systems that will be used to monitor borders with China and Pakistan.
The jet has the capability to collect electronic and ground intelligence up to 180 km inside China and Pakistan, and can fly 9,300 km nonstop with a speed of 907 km per hour (KMPH).
According to media reports, R&AW’s Aviation Research Centre has about 30 old airborne intelligence collection platforms that it’s planning to replace.