Netra Airborne Early Warning and Control System

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The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has officially given Final Operational Clearance (FOC) to the home-grown Netra Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) system.

Often called the Indian Air Force’s flying eye, this platform serves as India's premier domestically built aerial surveillance and battle management station.
The project was launched by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) to build strong domestic capabilities in airborne defense technology.
Its main goal is to give the Indian Air Force a flexible tactical tool to watch sensitive borders and manage complex air combat missions.

Flying at an altitude above 40,000 feet, the aircraft uses a top-mounted active radar to scan large areas of airspace without being blocked by land features.
Onboard computers process radar signals to instantly separate friendly aircraft from hostile ones and tag enemy emissions.
The system uses secure and jam-resistant data links to send live target information directly to fighter jets and ground stations at the same time.
Operators inside the cabin act as tactical guides to direct friendly fighter jets against incoming threats and manage regional air defense.

The aircraft uses a modified twin-engine Embraer EMB-145 jet imported from Brazil, equipped with in-flight refueling probes and powerful cooling systems.
An Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar lets the system reach distances of 250 kilometers and track over 200 targets at the same time.
The system combines Electronic Support Measures and Communication Support Measures to locate enemy radar stations and radio networks accurately.
It features a self-protection electronic warfare suite and works alongside the larger Phalcon AWACS to create a multi-layered air defense shield.