logo
Netra MkII AWACS project: India to develop next-gen airborne warning systems to boost IAF's long-range surveillance; Rs 20,000 crore project approved

Netra MkII AWACS project: India to develop next-gen airborne warning systems to boost IAF's long-range surveillance; Rs 20,000 crore project approved

Time of India17-07-2025
Netra MkII AWACS project
The Indian government has approved an approximately Rs 20,000 crore AWACS project, a major step toward boosting the Indian Air Force's airborne surveillance and early warning capabilities.
Under this programme, India will develop next-generation indigenous airborne early warning and control systems (AEW&C), positioning the country among a select group with advanced homegrown military radar technology.
The programme, also known as Netra MkII, is being spearheaded by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), which will work with several Indian companies and Airbus. It is being developed alongside DRDO's recently cleared fifth-generation Advanced Multirole Combat Aircraft project, as reported by ET.
Under Awacs India, six large airborne warning systems will be developed. These will be capable of tracking enemy aircraft, ground sensors, and other equipment over long distances, while also functioning as airborne command centres.
The systems will be installed on Airbus A321 aircraft, with complex antennas and advanced technologies integrated on board. This marks the first time an Airbus platform is being used for such a role, traditionally dominated by Boeing.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Villas For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You
Dubai villas | search ads
Get Deals
Undo
The IAF already has six A321 aircraft, previously acquired from Air India. These will undergo significant structural modifications, including the addition of a dorsal radar fin that will provide 360-degree radar coverage.
The project, expected to be completed in about three years, will feature fully indigenous Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radars and mission control systems, reported the financial daily.
It is also expected to give Indian firms valuable experience in developing and integrating complex defence technologies.
The IAF currently operates smaller Netra early warning aircraft, which have proved effective in past conflicts with Pakistan. In addition, it uses three IL76-based Phalcon systems developed in collaboration with Israel and Russia, though these have faced technical and operational challenges.
The Awacs India project may also open up future export opportunities as India strengthens its position in high-end defence manufacturing.
Stay informed with the latest
business
news, updates on
bank holidays
and
public holidays
.
AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

India-US trade deal: Commerce Ministry advised against accepting ‘unilaterally framed obligation' on digital taxes
India-US trade deal: Commerce Ministry advised against accepting ‘unilaterally framed obligation' on digital taxes

Indian Express

time25 minutes ago

  • Indian Express

India-US trade deal: Commerce Ministry advised against accepting ‘unilaterally framed obligation' on digital taxes

Legal advisers to the Commerce and Industry Ministry have suggested that Indian negotiators dealing with their US counterparts should not accept Washington's proposal that prohibits India from reintroducing equalisation levy-style taxes, such as the 'Google tax', in the future, a person aware of the negotiations told The Indian Express. The advice was offered on the grounds that the provisions drafted by the US did not state that both parties should refrain from applying digital taxes on each other. Rather, they sought a legal commitment only from the Indian side and were seen as a 'unilaterally framed obligation', the source said. While the US offers a range of digital services in India and American tech companies have long lobbied against any taxes on such services, India also exports a wide range of digital services to the US — particularly in the IT sector — generating the majority share of its total services exports earnings from the US market. Another concern raised with the government was that agreeing to such unilateral provisions could set a risky precedent for future trade negotiations, where similar demands could be made by other trading partners during talks with New Delhi, thereby complicating future negotiations. In a move to assuage US concerns about India being a high-tariff nation, the Central government in March proposed abolishing the equalisation levy on online advertisements as part of the amendments to the Finance Bill, 2025. An equalisation levy is a measure to 'equalise' the tax treatment of resident and non-resident e-commerce companies. As part of the 35 amendments to the Finance Bill, 2025, the Centre proposed removing the 6 per cent equalisation levy (EL) it charges on digital ads, effective from 1 April 2025. A query emailed to the Commerce and Industry Ministry remained unanswered till press time. 'Digital taxation is typically discussed outside the framework of a trade agreement. It is a nation's sovereign right to decide on such matters, and India should reserve that right. Bringing it under the scope of a trade agreement weakens your position. We need to examine the digital trade chapters of the US and Australia, which India must study carefully. Australia has provided the US with a carve-out that allows for protections for US services. We also need to secure our IT/ITeS and technology exports from taxation in the US, our largest market' Arpita Mukherjee, professor at Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER) said. Notably the US has forced Indonesia to several steep terms on digital trade. Indonesia has committed to address barriers impacting digital trade, services, and investment, a White House statement said. 'Indonesia will provide certainty regarding the ability to transfer personal data out of its territory to the United States. Indonesia has committed to eliminate existing HTS tariff lines on 'intangible products' and suspend related requirements on import declarations; to support a permanent moratorium on customs duties on electronic transmissions at the WTO immediately and without conditions; and to take effective actions to implement the Joint Initiative on Services Domestic Regulation, including submitting its revised Specific Commitments for certification by the World Trade Organization (WTO),' the White House statement read. The United States Trade Representative (USTR), in its report on non-tariff barriers, had earlier cited the 6 per cent equalisation levy as a discriminatory measure against US firms. The USTR report said that most digital services taxes are designed in ways that discriminate against US companies, often singling out American firms for taxation while excluding domestic companies engaged in similar lines of business. The US has also raised concerns about digital services taxes with a number of trade partners, particularly the EU. 'The disproportionate capture of US firms by the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA) and Digital Markets Act (DMA) is also noted as undermining US competitiveness due to increased compliance costs not borne by EU competitors,' the USTR said. Differences between India and the US assume significance as New Delhi continues to face the risk of 26 per cent reciprocal tariffs. After Indian negotiators completed another round of discussions in Washington last week, a US team led by the US Trade Representative for South and Central Asia, Brendan Lynch, is expected to visit India in mid-August to continue negotiations for a trade agreement. While India and the US have agreed on a wide range of tariff lines, the negotiations — which currently only involve market access for goods — remain stuck over sensitive sectors such as agriculture and automobiles, which are key job creators in India. Ravi Dutta Mishra is a Principal Correspondent with The Indian Express, covering policy issues related to trade, commerce, and banking. He has over five years of experience and has previously worked with Mint, CNBC-TV18, and other news outlets. ... Read More

Officials: UPSIDA purifying waste water at treatment plants for reuse
Officials: UPSIDA purifying waste water at treatment plants for reuse

Indian Express

time27 minutes ago

  • Indian Express

Officials: UPSIDA purifying waste water at treatment plants for reuse

The Uttar Pradesh State Industrial Development Authority (UPSIDA), through sewage treatment plants (STPs), waste water treatment plants, and common effluent treatment plants, is purifying and reusing wastewater keeping in mind environmental protection and industrial efficiency, officials said. The Surajpur waste water treatment plant (Gautam Budh Nagar) is being upgraded to SBR technology with a capacity of 6 MLD at a cost of Rs 899 lakh, targeted for completion by June 2026. The EPIP Kasna waste water treatment plant (3.6 MLD) is being upgraded with SBR technology at a cost of Rs 678.59 lakh. The Loni STP in Ghaziabad, based on MBBR technology, is operating at full capacity (5 MLD). Meanwhile, the Loni common effluent treatment plant dedicated to dyeing and textile waste is set for a major upgrade—from 6 MLD to 16 MLD—with a Rs 42 crore DPR already prepared. UPSIDA is integrating solar energy solutions into water purification plants and industrial areas. Rooftop solar panels are being installed at plant sites, leading to a significant reduction in energy costs and carbon emissions.

Visitors to Chitradurga fort find digital hurdle difficult to breach
Visitors to Chitradurga fort find digital hurdle difficult to breach

Deccan Herald

time27 minutes ago

  • Deccan Herald

Visitors to Chitradurga fort find digital hurdle difficult to breach

Hubballi: A section of visitors to the historical Chitradurga fort either return without seeing the legendary 'Obavvana kindi' or argue with guards at the gate to gain free entry as self-ticketing (by scanning QR code) fails to issue tickets due to poor internet connectivity and lengthy process of uploading details on the ASI-pay ministry of culture, under which the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) protected monument comes, has launched self-ticketing only system across India to minimise deployment of human resources at ticket counters, reduce operation cost (purchase of ticket rolls and vending machines) and reduce queue fort is one of the 25 monuments across India to pilot this initiative. However, forget the benefits, visitors to the fort are facing hardships..A security guard at Chitradurga fort said seven out of 10 attempts fail due to poor takes at least 8-10 minutes for each transaction to complete as visitors have to fill in their details along with uploading identity proof and mobile numbers on the ASI-pay app..'Many visitors don't carry smart-phones or do not have phone-pay/G-pay. The network coverage at the fort is poor. So, it becomes very difficult to manage the crowd,' said another many as 16 centrally protected monuments in Karnataka have entry them, two monuments — Chitradurga fort and Tipu Sultan palace in Bengaluru — allow visitors only under self-ticketing have to scan a QR code placed at the entry gate via digital payment apps and buy the 25 monuments selected by ASI across India for this pilot project, two are in ASI intends to implement self-ticketing system across all 250 centrally protected ticketed monuments in the country..A senior ASI official said the key main intention of the Ministry of Culture to implement ASI-pay app is to give Indian visitors Rs 5 discount and foreign visitors Rs 50 multiple ASI officials and guides at Hampi and Vijayapura informed DH that the app, instead of helping visitors, was resulting in hardships..'Earlier, we used to deploy two staff to issue tickets at Vijayapura monuments. Now, with the government insisting on self-ticketing, we are deploying five staff on weekends to help tourists,' said a Dharwad circle officer of app has also reduced mass booking of tickets. Only five persons can book a ticket per a guide at Hampi, says visitors are facing problems while booking tickets at Lotus Mahal and Vittala temple complex due to poor network coverage..'A majority of visitors buy tickets at the counter though they are a bit costlier than booking through QR scanning method,' he says and adds the process should have been as simple as making a digital ASI officer at Hampi circle said the complaint had been brought to the notice of higher-ups..'The network issue wasn't brought to our notice, we will look into it,' he says..A senior officer in Bengaluru circle, under which Chitradurga fort and Tipu Sultan palace come, says they are just following orders from the ministry of culture..'We have been asked to issue tickets at these monuments only via QR code scanning. Officials in Delhi or regional directors can take a call on reactivating booking counters,' he says.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store