NEWS: The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)à Granted Final Operational Clearance (FOC) to the indigenous Netra Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) system.

About

• Also known as the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) “Eye in the Sky,”
• Netra is India’s first indigenously developed airborne surveillance, command-and-control, and battle management platform.
• Functions as a highly mobile, flying radar station that scans vast areas of airspace far beyond the limits of conventional ground-based radar systems.
• Developed Byà The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
• Aimà The Netra project was established to build self-reliant domestic capabilities in airborne surveilance infrastructure.
• To provide the IAF with a flexible, highly efficient tactical force multiplier to monitor sensitive borders, track hostile intrusions, and coordinate complex network-centric air combat missions.

Key Features of the Netra Platform

• The Airframe Baseà Built upon a modified, twin-engine Embraer EMB-145 regional jet airframe imported from Brazil.
• The platform features customized in-flight refueling probes, enhanced electrical generators, and high-capacity climate cooling systems to power the radar electronics.
• Active AESA Radar Powerà Equipped with a primary Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar.
• The system can look out to a range of 250 kilometers and simultaneously track more than 200 distinct aerial objects (including aircraft, missiles, and unmanned aerial vehicles).
• Comprehensive Sensor Fusionà Beyond standard tracking, the platform integrates Electronic Support Measures (ESM) and Communication Support Measures (CSM) to intercept, map, and pinpoint enemy radar positions and radio networks.
• Full Network-Centric Warfare Integrationà Features a robust self-protection electronic warfare suite to spoof incoming hostile missiles.

Pairs with India’s long-range IL-76-based Phalcon AWACS to form a tiered, multi-layered air defense monitoring umbrella