India's airborne surveillance capabilities have taken a major step forward as the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) signed two key contracts for the long-awaited Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) Mk-II programme. The agreements mark the formal transition of one of the Indian Air Force's most critical force multiplier projects from planning to execution.
Under the ₹19,000 crore programme, DRDO's Centre for Air Borne Systems (CABS) has awarded AI Engineering Services Limited (AIESL) the contract to convert six Airbus A321 commercial airliners into "green" aircraft configurations. At the same time, Adani Defence Systems and Technologies Limited (ADSTL) has been selected as the Development-cum-Production Partner (DcPP) for the advanced mission systems that will equip the aircraft.
The first AEW&C Mk-II platforms are expected to enter service with the Indian Air Force between 2032 and 2033.
India's Largest Indigenous AEW&C Programme
The AEW&C Mk-II, commonly known as the Netra Mk-II, represents India's most ambitious indigenous airborne surveillance programme to date. Built on the larger Airbus A321 platform, it offers a significant capability leap over the existing Netra Mk-I fleet.
Key capabilities include:
Radar Coverage: 240°–300°
Detection Range: Over 500 km
Endurance: 9–10 hours
Primary Roles: Airborne surveillance, early warning, battle management, command and control, target tracking, and network-centric warfare
Unlike conventional surveillance aircraft, AEW&C platforms function as airborne command centres. They detect and track hostile aircraft, cruise missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and other aerial threats while coordinating friendly forces across vast operational areas. In modern air warfare, they provide the situational awareness necessary for effective Beyond Visual Range (BVR) combat operations.
Why the Airbus A321 Platform Was Chosen
The Airbus A321 provides considerable advantages over smaller regional jet platforms.
Its larger fuselage accommodates additional operator consoles, mission systems, power generation equipment, cooling infrastructure, and larger Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar systems. The aircraft also carries significantly more fuel, allowing it to remain on station for nearly ten hours—an important requirement for sustained surveillance missions across India's northern and western theatres.
With its larger payload and power margins, the Netra Mk-II is expected to deliver capabilities comparable to advanced airborne early warning systems such as China's KJ-500 and the Boeing E-7 Wedgetail.
India's Existing AEW&C Capability Gap
Despite operating one of the world's largest air forces, India currently has only six AEW&C aircraft in service:
Three Israeli Phalcon systems mounted on IL-76 aircraft.
Three indigenous Netra Mk-I aircraft based on the Embraer ERJ-145 platform.
Military planners have long assessed that the Indian Air Force requires at least 18 AEW&C aircraft to maintain continuous surveillance across both the western and northern fronts.
The shortfall becomes more evident when compared with regional competitors:
Pakistan: Approximately 10–12 AEW&C aircraft, including Saab 2000 Erieye and ZDK-03 platforms.
China: More than 40 AEW&C aircraft, led by the KJ-500 fleet.
As China continues expanding its fifth-generation J-20 fighter fleet while pursuing sixth-generation combat aircraft, India's need for persistent airborne surveillance has become increasingly urgent.
The Road to an 18-Aircraft Fleet
To bridge this capability gap, the Indian Air Force is pursuing a phased expansion of its airborne early warning fleet.
The plan includes:
Six upgraded Netra Mk-1A aircraft based on the Embraer platform.
Six new Netra Mk-II aircraft based on the Airbus A321.
The existing fleet of six AEW&C aircraft already in service.
Together, these programmes are expected to provide the Indian Air Force with a fleet of 18 AEW&C aircraft by the mid-2030s, enabling near-continuous airborne surveillance and significantly strengthening India's integrated air defence network.
The Netra Mk-II will also serve as a key node within India's future network-centric battlespace, supporting platforms such as the Rafale, Su-30MKI, Tejas Mk-2, Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), and long-range air defence systems like Project Kusha.
A Strategic Force Multiplier
The signing of these contracts represents more than an industrial milestone—it marks a significant enhancement of India's future air combat capabilities.
Modern warfare increasingly depends on information superiority. The ability to detect, track, classify, and coordinate engagements before an adversary can respond often determines the outcome of an air campaign. AEW&C platforms provide that critical advantage by serving as airborne command centres that integrate sensors, fighters, and air defence assets into a unified operational picture.
With the Netra Mk-II programme now entering full-scale execution, India has begun addressing one of the Indian Air Force's most important capability gaps. Once operational in the early 2030s, the Airbus A321-based AEW&C fleet is expected to become a cornerstone of India's network-centric warfare architecture, enhancing situational awareness, extending battlespace visibility, and strengthening deterrence against both Pakistan and China.