In modern aerial warfare, detecting an enemy jet or missile before it crosses your airspace is often the difference between victory and vulnerability. To ensure complete airspace dominance along its complex borders, India is executing a major upgrade to its airborne early warning and surveillance fleet.
The Centre for Airborne Systems (CABS), a key laboratory under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), signed landmark contracts to fast-track the Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) Mk-II project.
This project will convert six former Air India commercial passenger jets into high-tech flying command posts equipped with state-of-the-art radars, sensors, and battlefield management suites.
The Division of Labor: Who Is Doing What?
The development of these complex aircraft involves a multi-tier partnership between state research agencies, public sector engineering, and private industry:
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Airframe Conversion (AIESL): AI Engineering Services Limited (AIESL) has been contracted to take six Airbus A321 passenger jets—previously transferred from Air India—and convert them from commercial liners into “green” military configuration.
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Platform Modification (Airbus Defence & Space): The airframes will be structurally modified in collaboration with Airbus to handle the added aerodynamic weight and power requirements of military systems.
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Mission System Integration (Adani Defence Systems): Adani Defence Systems and Technologies Limited (ADSTL) will serve as the primary Development-cum-Production Partner (DcPP). Adani Defence will work alongside CABS to manufacture and integrate the complex radar electronics, electronic warfare suites, and communication modules onto the airframes.
Technical Capabilities: What Makes the Netra Mk-II Superior?
India currently operates two main types of surveillance aircraft: the heavier Russian IL-76-based PHALCON AWACS and the lighter Embraer EMB-145-based Netra Mk-I. While both are effective, the IAF needs greater operational range, longer flight endurance, and wider radar coverage.
The A321-based Netra Mk-II platform addresses these operational requirements directly:
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300-Degree Radar Coverage: Unlike earlier models, the Mk-II will feature a primary Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar on a dorsal fin, complemented by a secondary nose-mounted radar antenna to eliminate blind spots and provide nearly 300-degree tracking.
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Greater Range & Payload: The Airbus A321 offers significantly larger cabin space and fuel endurance compared to small regional jets, allowing operators to remain airborne for extended shifts during critical missions.
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Real-Time Network Integration: The aircraft will feed live tracking data straight into India’s Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS), allowing fighter jet squadrons and ground-based air defence batteries (such as S-400 and Akash missile systems) to react instantaneously to incoming threats.
Strategic Significance for the IAF
Both of India’s neighboring adversaries maintain dense air defence networks and growing fleets of airborne early warning platforms.
By scaling up the domestic AEW&C fleet through local production and private sector integration, India is reducing its historical reliance on expensive foreign platforms while building out a self-sustaining defense ecosystem under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
With airframe conversions and integration phases moving forward, the induction of these six surveillance aircraft through the early 2030s will significantly expand the Indian Air Force’s operational footprint across both the northern land borders and the Indian Ocean Region.