What are six converted passenger jets doing in India’s air defence plans? They are becoming flying radar stations for the Indian Air Force. DRDO leads the programme. Its cost is about Rs 19,000 crore.
Contents
What is the AEW&C Mk-II programme?
AEW&C stands for Airborne Early Warning and Control. The Mk-II is DRDO’s next-generation version for the Indian Air Force.
What are the key facts?
- It converts six Airbus A321 passenger aircraft into military radar platforms.
- The Cabinet Committee on Security cleared it in 2025 at about Rs 19,000 crore.
- DRDO’s Centre for Air Borne Systems (CABS) is the nodal laboratory.
- The system is also called Netra Mk II.
What is the memory hook?
Think “six A321s, one Rs 19,000 crore plan”. CABS leads.
Sources: PIB on the July 2026 contracts; The Defense News on the CCS approval.
What does the radar do?
The mission system is an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar. It is carried on the fuselage of the aircraft.
What are its main features?
- The main radar gives about 300 degrees of coverage.
- A smaller radar in the nose fills the blind spots.
- It aims to give more endurance, better surveillance and secure communication.
- It also aims to improve command and control.
What is the memory hook?
Think “300 plus a nose radar”. Together they leave few blind spots.
Sources: The Defense News on the radar; PIB, system capabilities.
Who does what in the programme?
Several bodies share the work. Some are Indian and one is foreign.
What does each partner do?
- Airbus Defence & Space delivers the modified A321 platform as the original equipment manufacturer.
- AI Engineering Services Limited (AIESL) converts the aircraft to green configuration.
- Adani Defence Systems and Technologies is the Development cum Production Partner for mission systems.
- CABS integrates the mission systems on the platform.
- CEMILAC and DGAQA certify the aircraft after flight tests.
What is the memory hook?
Think “Airbus airframe, AIESL conversion, Adani mission systems, CABS integration”.
Sources: PIB on the July 2026 contracts; GKToday summary.
What happened on 22 July 2026?
Two contracts were signed in New Delhi. The Defence Secretary and DRDO Chairman were present.
What did each contract cover?
- CABS and AIESL signed the contract to convert six A321 aircraft.
- A separate contract made Adani Defence Systems and Technologies (Ahmedabad) the mission-systems partner.
- Reports call Adani the first private Indian company to handle a large airborne mission platform of this kind.
- Induction of the fleet is planned for 2032-33.
What is the memory hook?
Think “22 July 2026: two contracts, two partners”.
Sources: PIB on the July 2026 contracts; Kotak Neo on the Adani deal.
What airborne radar aircraft does the IAF fly today?
The IAF has a small AEW&C fleet. Reports describe gaps in round-the-clock cover.
What is in service?
- Three Embraer EMB-145 based Netra Mk I aircraft.
- Three IL-76 Phalcon AWACS aircraft.
- The six Mk-II aircraft would double the number of these platforms.
What is the memory hook?
Think “3 Netra, 3 Phalcon, plus 6”. Netra Mk I is the EMB-145 one.
Sources: The Defense News on the current fleet.
Why does this programme matter?
An airborne radar sees far beyond ground radars. It can guide fighters and missile systems.
What is the benefit?
- It helps detect aircraft, drones and missiles at long range.
- It passes the picture to fighters and air defence in real time.
- Officials link it to the northern and western borders.
- PIB calls it a boost to Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
What is the memory hook?
Think “see far, share fast”. Detection plus command.
Sources: The Defense News on the role; PIB, self-reliance.
What are the exam traps?
Four mix-ups come up often.
What are the traps?
- Mk-II or Mk I? Mk I uses the EMB-145. Mk-II uses the A321.
- Two names, one programme. AEW&C Mk-II and Netra Mk II are the same.
- Not fully indigenous. Airbus supplies the airframe.
- Approval month. Reports differ between July and August 2025. Say 2025.
What is the memory hook?
Think “A321, same name, Airbus, 2025”.
Sources: The Defense News on Netra Mk I and Mk II; PIB on the platform and OEM; GKToday on the aircraft origin.
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Native Practice
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