NEW DELHI, Sep 9: India has given the green light for its military scientists to build an indigenous Airborne Warning and Control System (Awacs) to be completed in seven years at a cost of 18 billion rupees.

The decision was taken at a meeting on Thursday of the Cabinet Committee on Security, headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, a report said. "The Defence Research and Development Organisation and Indian Air Force will jointly cooperate in the development of the Awacs system," Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee told reporters after the meeting.

The deal follows the signing last October by India of a 1.1 billion dollar deal for three Phalcon airborne early warning radar systems with Israel and Russia. -AFP