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IAF To Enhance Capabilities With Acquisition Of 6 More Netra Mk-1A AEW&C Systems: Sources
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The AEW&C system is crucial for monitoring enemy territory from a distance, providing an early warning of incoming aerial threats.
The Ministry of Defence is set to consider a proposal for acquiring six Netra Mark-1A Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) systems for the Indian Air Force this month, sources have informed. The proposal will be presented to the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
The development will see airframes sourced from Brazilian aerospace giant Embraer, with modifications carried out by the Centre for Airborne Systems (CABS) under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
AWACS, an Airborne Warning and Control System, serves as a long-range radar surveillance and command and control platform mounted on an aircraft.
The acquisition aims to triple the IAF's AEW&C fleet, addressing critical gaps in India's air defense architecture amid rising regional tensions with China and Pakistan.
India currently operates Israeli EL/M-2090 Phalcon AWACS and the indigenously developed Netra AEW&C. However, the final approval for six Netra Mk-1A AEW&C systems is still pending, said sources.
The Netra Mk1A is an advanced iteration of the DRDO-developed Netra Mk-1 AEW&C system, which has proven its operational mettle in high-stakes scenarios like the 2019 Balakot airstrike and the recent Operation Sindoor on May 7, 2025.
The AEW&C system is crucial for monitoring enemy territory from a distance, providing an early warning of incoming aerial threats.
The decision to built India's defence capabilities aggressively came after military chiefs and national security planners met to discuss learnings from Operation Sindoor, that took place on June 7, 2025. The consensus emerged that India needs to build better and more lethal capabilities, as Pakistan will acquire more capabilities from China.
First Published:
June 10, 2025, 09:24 IST
