The Indian Air Force wants to buy unspecified numbers of Phalcon Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft from Israel in addition to the three already contracted in 2004 for $370 million each, it was reported

The air force request is near finalisation at the Ministry of Defence, sources said, but the price of the additional AWACS planes is yet to be negotiated.

The deal already in place with Israel includes Israeli Phalcon radar mounted on three Russian Il-76 aircraft to be used as an AWACS by the IAF.

The air force wants additional AWACS to become part of its Aerospace Command, under development by the Indian defense forces.