The Air Force is planning to induct more of the ‘Netra’ early warning and control aircraft to its fleet, in a show of confidence in the indigenous system that demonstrated its capabilities to track enemy aircraft and direct quick responses during the Balakot operations in 2019.
Airborne Warning and Control Systems
Sources said six additional aircraft are being planned to be acquired by the IAF as part of a $1 billion plan to add force multipliers in the Air Force. The Netra system has been developed by the DRDO which is also working on a next generation Airborne Warning and Control Systems (AWACS India) programme.
The IAF currently has two Netra systems that are mounted on the Embraer 145 jet. The additional six systems will be on the same jet and efforts are on to scout for aircraft in the secondary market as they are no longer in production.
Working of AWACS ‘Netra’
The IAF has been using these aircraft very effectively along both the China and Pakistan border to keep an eye on their activities along the boundary and their performance has been very effective. An airborne surveillance platform, it has the ability to maintain constant, all-pervasive vigil over the entire battlefield.
AWACS ‘Netra’
The Indian Air Force relies on three Israeli AWACS and two Netra surveillance planes for its surveillance needs.
Future Programme
The programme will be done along with the Netra-2 AEW&C project under which six A-321 aircraft would be modified to turn them into surveillance aircraft. This would mean that India would be getting around 13 more AEW&C planes in the coming five to ten years.
Partners
The responsibility between various DRDO laboratories is split as follows:
Electronics and Radar Development Establishment (LRDE) – Primary radar
Defence Electronics Application Laboratory (DEAL) – Communication Systems and Data Link
Defence Avionics Research Establishment (DARE) – Self Protection suite, Electronic Support Measurement EW
Defence Electronics Research Laboratory (DLRL) – Communication Support Measures
Centre for Airborne Systems (CABS) – IFF & Overall Programme Management, integration and development of the data handling system, displays, mission computers et al.
