Netra, India’s airborne surveillance platform, gets final operational nod, Pg14

Key Highlights:

• The indigenous Netra Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) system has received Final Operational Clearance (FOC).
• Developed by the Bengaluru-based Centre for Airborne Systems (CABS), it is integrated on the Brazilian Embraer EMB-145I aircraft platform.
• Netra played a crucial role as a force multiplier for the Indian Air Force (IAF) in the 2019 Balakot strikes and Operation Sindoor.
• India is the fifth country globally to develop this advanced airborne surveillance capability.
• The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) has approved the development of six more AEW&C Mk-1A systems by CABS.

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Detailed Insights:

• The Netra system significantly enhances the Indian Air Force (IAF)'s network-centric operations by detecting, tracking, identifying, and monitoring airborne and maritime targets.
• Its sophisticated mission suite includes an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, Identification Friend or Foe (IFF), and Electronic Support Measures (ESM).
• The program's origins trace back to the early 1980s, facing a temporary halt after a tragic 1999 air crash involving a modified HS-748 Avro aircraft.
• Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) for Netra was granted in 2015, followed by its induction into the IAF in 2017.
• The achievement was dedicated to the personnel who lost their lives in the 1999 crash, underscoring the perseverance in indigenous defense development.
• The approval for additional AEW&C Mk-1A systems signifies a strategic commitment to bolstering India's aerial surveillance and command capabilities.

Scientific/Technical Concepts Involved:

• Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C): An airborne radar system designed to detect aircraft, ships, and vehicles at long ranges and perform command and control of the battlespace.
• Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar: A type of phased array radar whose transmitter and receiver functions are composed of numerous small solid-state transmit/receive modules.
• Identification Friend or Foe (IFF): An identification system designed for command and control, which distinguishes friendly aircraft, vehicles, or forces from enemy ones.
• Electronic Support Measures (ESM): Passive electronic warfare systems that detect and analyze enemy electromagnetic emissions for intelligence gathering and threat warning.