India progresses AEW&C Mk 2 programme with new contracts
CABS' Mk II AEW&C programme is based on A321 platform. DRDO is developing six aircraft. (Janes/Akhil Kadidal)
India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has awarded two contracts in support of its indigenous Netra Mk II airborne early warning & control (AEW&C) special mission aircraft programme.
The Mk II is based on the Airbus A321, with DRDO's Centre for AirBorne Systems (CABS) aiming to provide the Indian Air Force (IAF) with six platforms.
On 22 July, CABS signed a contract with Air India Engineering Services Limited (AIESL) to convert six A321 airframes acquired from Air India from their current “commercial configuration to [a] green configuration”, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said.
The ‘green configuration' refers to the stripping down of a commercial airliner before it is modified for military use.
In a separate contract that same day, CABS also contracted Adani Defence Systems and Technologies (ADSTL) as the programme's Development cum Production Partner (DcPP), the MoD said.
ADSTL will design mission systems for the Netra Mk II platforms, the MoD added.
The ministry did not specify the value of the contracts. In 2022, the Mk II programme was valued at INR109 billion (USD1.1 billion), according to CABS.
Airbus will modify the airframes in Spain. CABS and ADSTL will begin the process of integrating mission systems on the platforms after their delivery by Airbus, the MoD said.
Janes has reported that the Netra Mk II will be equipped with an enhanced radar and mission systems supporting electronic intelligence (ELINT) and communications intelligence (COMINT) capabilities.
Go beyond the headlines - with direct links to interconnected entities
Get full access to validated equipment, military capabilities, and market insights.
