DRDO hands over FOC for Netra AEW&C system to Indian Air Force
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has achieved a significant milestone with the handing over of the Final Operational Clearance (FOC) certificate of the Indigenous ‘Netra’ Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) system to the Indian Air Force (IAF), the defence ministry said here on Thursday.
Giving details, it said the system has been indigenously developed through close collaboration among the IAF, DRDO, and associated industries to significantly enhance airborne surveillance, situational awareness and battle management capability. It represents a landmark achievement in India’s journey towards self-reliance in advanced aerospace & defence technologies. The Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) was given in 2017.
The ceremony was presided over by the Deputy Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Awadhesh Kumar Bharti in Bengaluru, Karnataka, on Thursday.
Former Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria (Retd), former DRDO Chairman Dr S Christopher, serving and retired senior officers of IAF, Outstanding Scientist & Director Centre for Air Borne System (CABS)P Santhya, Outstanding Scientist and Chief Executive (Airworthiness) APVS Prasad, Scientist ‘G’ & Head NETRA FOC A S Kumaran, other senior officials of DRDO, and industry partners attended the event.
In his address, the Deputy Chief of the Air Staff appreciated the FOC of indigenous Netra AEW&C. He spoke about the operational utilisation and reliability of the system during Operation Sindoor and Balakot strikes.
He reiterated the importance of indigenous technologies, which offer the services the flexibility to adapt the system to the evolving war scenario by undertaking modifications. He lauded the synergy among DRDO, IAF and the industry, which has defined the success of the programme.
Distinguished Scientist and Director General of Aeronautics Cluster of DRDO, Dr K Rajalakshmi Menon, narrated the successful journey of NETRA. She brought out the challenges faced and the decisions taken that enabled to achieve the programme objectives and deliver the operationally capable system to IAF. She emphasised the importance of System Engineering and how it helped in the planning and execution of flight tests.
The successful induction of the Netra AEW&C system into operational service reflects the DRDO’s commitment to indigenisation, innovation, and capability enhancement of the Defence Services.
The programme stands as a shining example of synergy between operational users, scientific agencies and defence production establishments.
