India's Netra AEW&C System Gets Final Operational Clearance for IAF

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) handed over a Final Operational Clearance (FOC) certificate for the indigenous Netra Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) system to the Indian Air Force (IAF) at a ceremony in Bengaluru. Deputy Chief of the Air Staff Air Marshal Awadhesh Kumar Bharti presided over the event, noting that the platform has already demonstrated reliability during Operation Sindoor and the 2019 Balakot air strikes.

Netra, built around an Embraer EMB‑145 airframe with an active electronically scanned array radar, provides around 240‑degree coverage and can detect aerial targets up to 375 km. The IAF currently operates three Netra Mk‑1 aircraft with No. 200 Squadron, complementing three Israeli‑origin Phalcon AWACS. With the FOC, the system is cleared for full operational deployment, marking a milestone in India’s push for defence self‑reliance. The government has also approved the development of advanced variants, including Mk‑1A and Mk‑2 models.

Officials described the clearance as a landmark achievement that strengthens India’s airborne surveillance, situational awareness, and battle‑management capabilities.