India’s homegrown Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) system, Netra, has officially achieved Final Operational Clearance (FOC). Developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and led by the Centre for Airborne Systems (CABS), the system is mounted on an Embraer aircraft platform. It drastically improves the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) ability to detect, track, and manage aerial threats over expansive areas. The formal FOC certification was handed over during a ceremony in Bengaluru, attended by senior defense officials and scientists.
Air Marshal Awadhesh Kumar Bharti, Deputy Chief of the Air Staff, called the milestone a celebration of the partnership between the IAF and the scientific community in fulfilling the quest for Atmanirbharta. He emphasized that the air force was deeply involved throughout the design, development, and testing phases. “Perhaps the greatest testimony to the faith that the IAF had in this indigenous programme was our decision to induct the platform operationally even before the final operational clearance,” Bharti stated.
The system has already demonstrated its critical surveillance and battle management capabilities during real-world operations, including the Balakot air strikes and Operation Sindoor. Bharti noted that such indigenous platforms provide the armed forces with the necessary flexibility to adapt to evolving battlefield requirements through localized upgrades rapidly.
