Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) MKII Programme

About Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) Mk-II programme

• The Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) MKII Programme is India’s next-generation airborne surveillance programme being developed for the Indian Air Force (IAF).
• Nodal agency: Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
  • Adani Defence & Aerospace and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) have signed a landmark agreement for the development of the AEW&C MKII Programme.
• Nodal lab: Centre for Air Borne Systems (CABS) as the nodal laboratory, will give enhanced endurance and advanced airborne surveillance.
• Features:
  • Under the agreement, Adani Defence & Aerospace and DRDO will jointly develop, manufacture, and integrate the airborne mission systems.
  • The mission systems will be installed on six modified Airbus A321 aircraft for the Indian Air Force (IAF).
  • The programme also includes integrated logistics, maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), and technical support for a period of up to 30 years.
  • The induction of the AEW&C MKII aircraft is planned for 2032–33.
• Capabilities
  • AEW&C aircraft, often described as the “eyes in the skies,” are among the most critical assets in modern air warfare.
  • The platform will provide long-range surveillance, early threat detection, and real-time command and control capabilities.
• Impacts: It will enable faster and better-informed operational decision-making during military operations.
  • The AEW&C MKII will significantly enhance the IAF’s situational awareness, force coordination, and network-centric operations.
  • With the development of AEW&C MKII, India will join the select group of countries—the United States, France, Israel, China, and Sweden—that have developed indigenous Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) capabilities.