Netra AEW&C system gets Final Operational Clearance from IAF in Bengaluru
Synopsis
India's home-grown Netra AEW&C system has earned its Final Operational Clearance — nearly eight years after its initial clearance in 2017. Crucially, it wasn't just a lab success: the IAF confirmed the system performed during Operation Sindoor and the Balakot strikes, making it one of India's few indigenously developed platforms with a verified combat record.
Key Takeaways
The IAF received the Final Operational Clearance (FOC) for the indigenous Netra AEW&C system on 26 June 2025 in Bengaluru .
The system was developed jointly by the IAF , DRDO , and associated industry partners to enhance airborne surveillance and battle management.
The Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) was first granted in 2017 , making the journey to FOC nearly eight years .
Air Marshal Awadhesh Kumar Bharti confirmed Netra's operational use during Operation Sindoor and the Balakot strikes .
DRDO Director General K.
Rajalakshmi Menon and B K Das highlighted systems engineering and stakeholder synergy as key to the programme's success.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) on 26 June 2025 received the Final Operational Clearance (FOC) certificate for the indigenously developed Netra Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) system, marking a landmark milestone in India's pursuit of self-reliance in advanced aerospace and defence technologies. The Ministry of Defence confirmed that the system was developed through close collaboration among the IAF, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), and associated industry partners.
Key Developments at the Bengaluru Ceremony
The FOC ceremony was held in Bengaluru, Karnataka, and presided over by Deputy Chief of the Air Staff Air Marshal Awadhesh Kumar Bharti. The event was attended by former Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria (Retd), former DRDO Chairman S. Christopher, and senior serving and retired officers of the IAF.
Also present were Centre for Air Borne Systems (CABS) Director and Outstanding Scientist P. Santhya, Outstanding Scientist and Chief Executive (Airworthiness) APVS Prasad, and Scientist 'G' and NETRA FOC Head A S Kumaran, along with other senior DRDO officials and industry partners. Special felicitations were extended to organisations and units that played a pivotal role in the system's realisation and operationalisation.
Operational Role and Battle-Tested Performance
Air Marshal Bharti highlighted the operational utilisation and reliability of the Netra system during Operation Sindoor and the Balakot strikes, underscoring its combat-proven credentials. He emphasised that indigenous technologies offer the armed forces the flexibility to adapt systems to evolving war scenarios through timely modifications — a strategic advantage not easily available with imported platforms.
He also lauded the synergy among DRDO, the IAF, and the defence industry as the defining factor behind the programme's success.
Journey from Concept to Clearance
Distinguished Scientist and DRDO Director General of Aeronautics Cluster K. Rajalakshmi Menon narrated the full journey of the Netra programme, detailing the challenges encountered and the decisions that enabled the team to meet programme objectives. She stressed the critical role of systems engineering in planning and executing the complex flight-test regime.
Distinguished Scientist and DRDO Director General of Electronics Cluster B K Das described stakeholder synergy as the cornerstone of the programme's success, calling the Netra AEW&C a 'defining testimony to self-reliance and attaining Viksit Bharat.'
Notably, the system had received its Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) back in 2017, meaning the journey from initial to final clearance spanned nearly eight years — a timeline that reflects the complexity of integrating radar, communication, and battle management systems on an airborne platform.
What Netra Adds to India's Defence Capability
The Netra AEW&C system significantly enhances airborne surveillance, situational awareness, and battle management capabilities for the IAF. AEW&C platforms are widely regarded as force multipliers — capable of detecting aerial threats at long range, coordinating fighter responses, and providing a comprehensive air picture to commanders in real time. India's indigenous version reduces dependence on foreign platforms and gives the IAF greater operational autonomy.
With the FOC now granted, the Netra system transitions fully into operational service, with its contributions already validated under live operational conditions. Further capability enhancements, enabled by the indigenous design, are expected to follow.
Point of View
Including during Operation Sindoor. That distinction separates it from many DRDO programmes that have stalled between IOC and FOC for years without a combat record. The eight-year gap between IOC and FOC also raises a legitimate question: can India's indigenous defence development cycle be compressed for next-generation platforms? As AEW&C technology evolves rapidly globally, the pace of indigenous upgrades — enabled by the flexibility Netra's design affords — will determine whether this milestone translates into a sustained capability edge or a one-generation achievement.
NationPress
26 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Netra AEW&C system?
The Netra Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) system is an indigenously developed Indian platform designed to provide long-range airborne surveillance, situational awareness, and battle management capabilities to the IAF. It was developed by DRDO in collaboration with the IAF and industry partners and is now fully cleared for operational service.
What is the difference between IOC and FOC for the Netra system?
The Initial Operational Clearance (IOC), granted in 2017, certified the system as ready for limited operational use. The Final Operational Clearance (FOC), awarded on 26 June 2025, certifies full operational readiness across all intended mission parameters, completing the system's induction into active service.
Was the Netra system used in Operation Sindoor?
Yes. Deputy Chief of the Air Staff Air Marshal Awadhesh Kumar Bharti confirmed at the FOC ceremony that the Netra AEW&C system was operationally utilised during Operation Sindoor and the Balakot strikes, demonstrating its reliability under real combat conditions.
Who developed the Netra AEW&C system?
The Netra system was developed indigenously through close collaboration among the Indian Air Force, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) — particularly the Centre for Air Borne Systems (CABS) — and associated Indian industry partners.
Why does the Netra FOC matter for India's defence self-reliance?
The FOC marks the full induction of a combat-proven, indigenously developed AEW&C platform into IAF service, reducing dependence on foreign surveillance systems. It also gives India the flexibility to modify and upgrade the system domestically as operational requirements evolve — a strategic advantage unavailable with imported platforms.
