Airborne Early Warning Systems - A-50EI Phalcon, DRDO Netra AEW&C, DRDO AWACS

[Chester Nimitz]

Where is anything substantial on Netra Mk1a

Embraer has not even purchased any second hand ERJ 145

moreover, the A330 awacs was reportedly cancelled and is now resurfacing again as per reports

LOL, if anything (and if this news is actually true which I highly doubt) it reflects badly on Airbus taking this long to make some modifications to an airframe.
I mean it's ridiculous to think that a company which can churn out aircraft in mere months take 6 years to carry out some modification work, and this with the cost escalation being approved by CCS.

IAF's RFI release is more of an information gathering exercise which they love to do every now & then, don't see anything fruitful coming out as is the case with previous such endeavours, especially with both Netra Mk1A & Mk2 in the anvil with both programs together amounting to 12 AEW platforms.

The CCS clearance for the Netra Mk2 AEW&C was widely reported by news media when it came back in September 2021, obviously there would be some truth to it.

Redirect Notice

There was a revised cost escalation to Rs.20,000 crore of which the news came out last year and the CCS subsequently granted clearance for it in August 2025.

Netra MkII AWACS project: India to develop next-gen airborne warning systems to boost IAF’s long-range surveillance; Rs 20,000 crore project approved - Times of India

India Business News: The government has approved an approximately Rs 20,000 crore AWACS project, a major step toward boosting the Indian Air Force’s airborne surveillance .

timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Either way

Global and L3Harris is superior to whatever DRDO has achieved ( 600 km using a business jet )

There is no L band radar on Mk2 either for J-35 and stealth detections

 

[Chester Nimitz]

Where is anything substantial on Netra Mk1a

Embraer has not even purchased any second hand ERJ 145

moreover, the A330 awacs was reportedly cancelled and is now resurfacing again as per reports


Either way

Global and L3Harris is superior to whatever DRDO has achieved ( 600 km using a business jet )

There is no L band radar on Mk2 either for J-35 and stealth detections

@Aniruddha

Keep laughing as the IAF cries and gets surpirsed in next skirmish with PAF sometime in 2028

 

[Aniruddha]

@Aniruddha

Keep laughing as the IAF cries and gets surpirsed in next skirmish with PAF sometime in 2028

I am laughing at the fleeting statements you love to make on this forum & Other forum which are devoid of any rationale and logic kiddo.

 

[Aniruddha]

Where is anything substantial on Netra Mk1a

Embraer has not even purchased any second hand ERJ 145

moreover, the A330 awacs was reportedly cancelled and is now resurfacing again as per reports


Either way

Global and L3Harris is superior to whatever DRDO has achieved ( 600 km using a business jet )

There is no L band radar on Mk2 either for J-35 and stealth detections

Maybe you have been living under a rock or you couldn't care less to go through the previous posts on this thread.
For Netra Mk1A, the RFP has already been issued to Embraer to scout for used ERJ-145 airframes, it's their headache now while work on the AAAU is underway.

As far as the L3Harris offering being superior to Netra Mk1A/Mk2 is based on what source, please don't tell its based on marketing BS because there is a sea of difference in what's claimed on the brochure and what's in reality under real world conditions.
DRDO hasn't even made the specs of the AAAU public, all that it's known is it will feature GaN T/Rs.

 

[Chester Nimitz]

Maybe you have been living under a rock or you couldn't care less to go through the previous posts on this thread.
For Netra Mk1A, the RFP has already been issued to Embraer to scout for used ERJ-145 airframes, it's their headache now while work on the AAAU is underway.

As far as the L3Harris offering being superior to Netra Mk1A/Mk2 is based on what source, please don't tell its based on marketing BS because there is a sea of difference in what's claimed on the brochure and what's in reality under real world conditions.
DRDO hasn't even made the specs of the AAAU public, all that it's known is it will feature GaN T/Rs.

Basic specs itself show the difference

Netra Mk1a has a 270 Degree itself and S band radar ( based on public domain, there is no secret nose or tail radar they are putting

Which Global Eye & ELTA 2085 has

Secondly, the Mk2 has a nose X band radar in it and ( no tail again )

There is no mention of L band radar as well ( all S band , which is case of SAAB Global Eye as well )

Secondly, marketing gimmicks apply to DRDO and HAL as well

The so called marketing of Uttam, SRK and Virupaksha is yet to be into materialised ( loudmouths ) whereas the NATO awacs I mentioned are assessed and ordered.

Moreover, IAI/ELTA can claim battle proven system given their use in Iran wars

 

[Ad 04 30]

The CCS clearance for the Netra Mk2 AEW&C was widely reported by news media when it came back in September 2021, obviously there would be some truth to it.

Redirect Notice

There was a revised cost escalation to Rs.20,000 crore of which the news came out last year and the CCS subsequently granted clearance for it in August 2025.

Netra MkII AWACS project: India to develop next-gen airborne warning systems to boost IAF’s long-range surveillance; Rs 20,000 crore project approved - Times of India

India Business News: The government has approved an approximately Rs 20,000 crore AWACS project, a major step toward boosting the Indian Air Force’s airborne surveillance .

timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Apologies

I wasn't aware it was already given in 2021, and 2025 was for cost escalation

Basic specs itself show the difference

Netra Mk1a has a 270 Degree itself and S band radar ( based on public domain, there is no secret nose or tail radar they are putting

Which Global Eye & ELTA 2085 has

Secondly, the Mk2 has a nose X band radar in it and ( no tail again )

There is no mention of L band radar as well ( all S band , which is case of SAAB Global Eye as well )

Secondly, marketing gimmicks apply to DRDO and HAL as well

The so called marketing of Uttam, SRK and Virupaksha is yet to be into materialised ( loudmouths ) whereas the NATO awacs I mentioned are assessed and ordered.

Moreover, IAI/ELTA can claim battle proven system given their use in Iran wars

Uttam is ready for production since 2024, and SRK is undergoing certification

Virupaksha is under testing

With these Netra, you get ease of upgrade and integration to IACCS.
We're not aware of specifications or range

L band vs S band is comrpromise you want

S band also offers better resolution and better missile support

 

[Choice_of _inevitability]

Basic specs itself show the difference

Netra Mk1a has a 270 Degree itself and S band radar ( based on public domain, there is no secret nose or tail radar they are putting

Which Global Eye & ELTA 2085 has

Secondly, the Mk2 has a nose X band radar in it and ( no tail again )

There is no mention of L band radar as well ( all S band , which is case of SAAB Global Eye as well )

Secondly, marketing gimmicks apply to DRDO and HAL as well

The so called marketing of Uttam, SRK and Virupaksha is yet to be into materialised ( loudmouths ) whereas the NATO awacs I mentioned are assessed and ordered.

Moreover, IAI/ELTA can claim battle proven system given their use in Iran wars

We are talking about an AWACS, it's much more than the radar it carries. An off-the-shelf purchase would serve no more than a radar picket.

 

[Choice_of _inevitability]

Netra Mk2 faces program delay

Supposedly will only start modifications in 2032

This makes no sense, why would they start MODIFICATIONs 6 years from now? Which would mean deliveries 10 years from now, which pushes induction to 13 years i.e. the aircraft would be like 40 years old by then.
This literally sounds like the wet dream of an intelligence agency trying to derail a crucial program.

We would be better off with selecting a new platform altogether, preferably from Brazil.