India plans to purchase three Russian A-50 AWACS aircraft, ITAR-TASS reports with reference to a source close to the Military-Industrial Commission of Russian Federation. In 2003 India placed an order for three A-50 jets; the contract was implemented in 2010.

"We are considering the possibility of delivering three more A-50 aircraft to India; the negotiations are in progress", - the source said. He didn’t unveil possible date of signing the contract.

According to the source, the jets will feature the same configuration as the ones delivered under the contract signed in 2003. The source added that upon implementation of that contract India signed a contract for maintenance of its A-50 aircraft. The contract is being implemented successfully with the participation of Russian specialists.

A-50 was derived from Il-76MD aircraft and put into service in 1989. It is designed for detecting and tracking air targets and surface ships, alerting the command posts of automated systems and controlling other aircraft during targeting.