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News: DRDO handed over the Final Operational Clearance (FOC) certificate of the indigenous Netra Airborne Early Warning and Control system to the Indian Air Force.
About Airborne Early Warning & Control System ‘Netra’
- Netra is an indigenous Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) system that functions as a flying radar station for detecting, tracking and identifying airborne and maritime threats.
- Global Achievement: This capability makes India the fifth country in the world to design and build its own airborne surveillance and battle management platforms.
- Initial Operational Clearance: The Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) for the Netra AEW&C system was granted in 2017.
- Developer: It has been developed by the Centre for Airborne Systems (CABS) under DRDO in collaboration with the Indian Air Force (IAF) and Indian defence industry partners.
- Commonly Known as: It is commonly known as the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) “Eye in the Sky”.
- Key Features:
- Base Aircraft Platform: It is built around the Brazilian Embraer EMB-145 aircraft, on which an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar is mounted.
- Long-range Detection: It detects incoming projectiles, ships and aircraft at long ranges and directs friendly fighters in real time.
- Radar Coverage: It provides 250–500+ km detection range and 300° to 360° radar coverage for tracking hostile aircraft, drones and missiles.
- Advanced Mission Equipment: It includes an AESA radar, Identification Friend or Foe (IFF), mission computer, secure communication networks, Electronic Support Measures (ESM) and Communication Support Measures.
- Real-time Information Sharing: It shares real-time information with fighter jets, ground stations and other military assets.
