India's indigenous Netra Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) system got its Final Operational Clearance (FOC) Thursday . Big moment for Indian Air Force (IAF). This system already showed its mettle in Balakot strikes in 2019 and Operation Sindoor in 2025.
Developed in Bengaluru by Centre for Airborne Systems (CABS),Netra AEW&C is fitted to Brazilian Embraer EMB-145I aircraft . Advanced tech here: Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar,Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) systems, secure comm networks. India now fifth nation with such advanced airborne surveillance. Boosts IAF's network-centric operations .
Ceremony saw officials dedicate FOC to colleagues lost in 1999 air crash. Modified HS-748 Avro aircraft went down near Arakkonam,Tamil Nadu. Eight died — four IAF,four scientists. K. Rajalakshmi Menon of DRDO said,“Today we have shown that their sacrifice has not gone in vain.”
Efforts to build indigenous AEW&C started in early '80s with Indira Gandhi's backing. Project hit by setbacks, especially after '99 crash. But fresh push in 2004 led to Netra's development.
Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) came in 2015, system joined IAF in 2017. Since then,it went through several exercises improving capabilities . Added indigenous electronic support measures (ESM), radar upgrades for spotting low-flying targets.
Air Marshal Awadhesh Kumar Bharti, Deputy Chief of Air Staff, noted Netra's importance,saying it's been key in many IAF ops. FOC completion means program delivered on its goals. “Whatever we envisioned with this programme has been delivered in full,” he said.
During Operation Sindoor,Netra proved its worth under tough conditions. Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) approved six more AEW&C Mk-1A systems to boost IAF further.
Former Air Chief,Air Chief Marshal R.K.S . Bhadauria (retd),looked back on program's journey and HS-748 project team's work. He called FOC a big win,fulfilling vision from IAF and scientific leaders…
