From HiPakistan.com "NEW DELHI: 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 Rs 18 billion. The decision was taken on Thursday at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security, headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. "The Defence Research and Development Organisation and Indian Air Force will jointly develop the system," Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee told reporters after the meeting. The deal follows the signing last October by India of a $1.1 billion agreement for three Phalcon airborne early warning radar systems with Israel and Russia. Pakistan had immediately reacted with the warning that the deal could trigger an arms race in South Asia. The Press Trust of India news agency said the government had set aside Rs 18 billion for the ambitious project to build the indigenous AWACS."