The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has formally entered a critical execution phase of India’s next-generation airborne surveillance programme with the release of the first open industry tender for the Netra Mk2 Airborne Early Warning and Control System (AEW&CS).
Issued by the Centre for Airborne Systems (CABS), DRDO’s nodal laboratory for airborne intelligence and surveillance platforms, the tender invites Indian private aerospace firms to design and manufacture the “Metallic Hood” — a highly specialised aerodynamic and structural assembly that will house the aircraft’s primary radar. The move marks the beginning of large-scale private sector participation in the ₹11,000-crore Netra Mk2 programme, a cornerstone initiative aimed at significantly strengthening the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) airborne surveillance and battle management capabilities.
The Netra Mk2 is designed to bridge a long-standing capability gap in the IAF’s airborne early warning fleet. At present, the service operates the smaller Embraer-based Netra Mk1 AEW&CS aircraft alongside the larger Russian-origin IL-76 Phalcon AWACS platforms. While effective, the limited number of Phalcons and the endurance constraints of the smaller Netra Mk1 have highlighted the need for a medium-class, high-capability surveillance aircraft. The Netra Mk2 is intended to fill this space.
Under the programme, DRDO plans to deliver six Airbus A321 aircraft converted into full-fledged AEW&CS platforms by the 2031–32 timeframe. The aircraft are being sourced from Air India’s fleet and will undergo extensive structural reinforcement and systems integration to accommodate the massive radar, mission electronics, power generation, and cooling requirements. Once operational, the Netra Mk2 fleet is expected to provide persistent, long-range detection and tracking of hostile aircraft, drones, and missile threats deep inside adversary airspace.
At the heart of the system is the Active Antenna Array Unit (AAAU), which will be housed within the Metallic Hood specified in the tender. The AAAU features a dual-sided S-band radar providing 300-degree coverage. Unlike legacy AWACS aircraft that rely on rotating rotodomes, the Netra Mk2 adopts a fixed “balance-beam” configuration. Two large rectangular radar panels, each roughly 10 metres long and 1.8 metres high, will be mounted longitudinally above the fuselage.
These panels are powered by thousands of Gallium Nitride (GaN)-based transmit/receive modules developed indigenously by DRDO’s Electronics and Radar Development Establishment (LRDE). GaN technology offers substantially higher power density, efficiency, and thermal resilience compared to earlier semiconductor materials, enabling longer detection ranges and better performance against low-observable targets.
The Metallic Hood itself represents a major engineering challenge. Described by officials as one of the largest single metallic aerospace structures ever attempted in India, it is far more than a simple fairing. It is a load-bearing, aerodynamically critical structure that must ensure aircraft stability while preserving radar performance.
The tender outlines demanding technical requirements. The hood must maintain aerodynamic integrity at cruising speeds of Mach 0.8, withstand temperatures ranging from –55°C to +70°C, and limit radar signal attenuation to less than 0.5 decibels in the S-band. It must also survive bird strikes and lightning strikes, integrate complex cooling and environmental control systems for the high-power radar electronics, and remain within a strict weight limit of under 2.2 tonnes.
Strategically, the programme is viewed as a significant step towards India’s goal of defence self-reliance. By drawing private industry into the design and fabrication of such a critical subsystem, DRDO aims to build a domestic ecosystem capable of supporting advanced airborne surveillance platforms.
Once inducted, the Netra Mk2 is expected to act as a force multiplier for the IAF, enabling simultaneous monitoring of India’s western and northern fronts and providing commanders with a decisive edge in network-centric and high-tempo air operations.
