Amidst a push for developing additional Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) Systems, the Netra AEW&C developed indigenously by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), will be formally awarded the Final Operational Clearance on June 25.
“A ceremony for the declaration of Final Operational Clearance (FOC) of Netra Airborne Early Warning and Control System is planned on 25 June 2026 at Centre for Airborne Systems (CABS), DRDO, Bengaluru,” DRDO said on Friday. “The FOC is a major milestone achieved for an indigenous system of systems such as the Netra AEW&C.”
The FOC officially certifies that a military aircraft is fully combat-ready, structurally sound, and equipped with all the required operational capabilities. The FOC follows the Initial Operational Clearance (IOC), an operational phase where a limited number of aircraft are inducted into service and further modifications as required are suggested and carried out.
The IAF, at present, has three Netra Mark-1 systems based on the Embraer – 145 airframe, which are based at Bhisiana Air Force Station near Bathinda in Punjab with No. 200 Squadron.
Inducted in 2015, these aircraft have been deployed in war like situations, first during the airstrikes on terror camps at Balakote in Pakistan’s Pakhtunkhwa area in 2019, then during the India-China border stand-off in 2020 and then during Operation Sindoor in 2025. These aircraft are complemented by three Beriev A-50 Airborne Warning and Control Systems that are based on the Russian IL-76 platform.
AEW&C aircraft form a critical element of network centric operations. Equipped with advanced radars and sensors, they act like an eye in the sky, not only keeping a watch on hostile platforms from a long range, but also guiding friendly aircraft during operations and relaying battlefield data to command centres.
In 2003, the Indian Air Force (IAF) and DRDO carried out a joint study for the development for an AEW&C system and after the project received government approval, DRDO’s Centre for Airborne Systems (CABS), was made the nodal agency for the design, system integration and testing of the system.
Four other DRDO laboratories were also actively involved, with the Electronics and Radar Development Establishment responsible for developing the primary radar, Defence Electronics Application Laboratory for communication systems and data link, Defence Avionics Research Establishment for self-protection suite and electronic warfare measures and the Defence Electronics Research Laboratory for communication support.
Three ERJ – 145 were procured from Brazil and were extensively modified with additional features like in-flight refueling, satellite communication capability, avionics and electrical systems and various aerodynamic and structural changes. The first fully modified aircraft made its maiden flight in December 2011 at the Embraer facilities in Brazil and the aircraft was delivered to DRDO in August 2012.
The first Netra aircraft was delivered to the IAF by DRDO in February 2017 and it received initial operational clearance in October 2017 after trial runs at the Bhisiana Air Force Station. The second and third aircraft were received by the IAF in 2019 and 2023.
The central government has accorded its approval for developing another six Netra AEW&C of the Mark-1A variant, which would be more advanced with an enhanced mission suite, upgraded sensors and longer range radar for effective detection of low‑observability aircraft like drones and stealth jets and better human‑machine interface and tighter integration into IAF systems.
Plans are also under way to develop Netra’s Mark-2 variant involving a larger aircraft, more powerful radar with a detection range of over 500 kms and improved all‑round situational awareness. Six Airbus A-321 have been procured by the IAF from Air India for the project.
