Netra Airborne Early Warning and Control System

IAF gets Final Operational Clearance of indigenous Airborne Early Warning & Control system ‘Netra’-PIB 

About Netra Airborne Early Warning and Control System

• Netra is an indigenously developed Airborne Early Warning and Control System (AEW&C) of the Indian Air Force.
• It is built on the Embraer EMB-145 aircraft platform.
• It acts as the IAF’s “Eye in the Sky”, providing airborne surveillance and command support.
• It has been developed by the Centre for Airborne Systems (CABS), Bengaluru.
• With Netra, India became the fifth country in the world to develop such airborne surveillance capability.

Key Features

• Netra can detect enemy aircraft, drones, missiles, ships and incoming projectiles from long distances.
• It helps in real-time battlefield management by tracking threats and guiding friendly fighter aircraft.
• It has a detection range of around 250–500+ km.
• Its radar provides nearly 300° to 360° coverage, giving a wide surveillance picture.
• It uses an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar mounted on the dorsal section of the aircraft.
• The system includes:
  • AESA radar
  • Identification Friend or Foe (IFF)
  • Mission computer
  • Secure communication networks
  • Electronic Support Measures (ESM)
  • Communication Support Measures
• Unlike ground-based radar, Netra operates from high altitude, allowing it to detect threats beyond terrain obstacles.
• It can share real-time information with fighter jets, ground stations and other military assets, improving coordination during operations.