India has formally approved the NETRA MK-2, an advanced airborne early warning and control system (AEW&C) based on the Airbus A321 platform, with a ₹20,000 crore budget to develop six mission-ready aircraft by the decade’s end. This represents a key upgrade from the earlier Embraer-based NETRA MK-1, offering enhanced endurance, operational range beyond 500 km, and advanced indigenous AESA radar technology with nearly 360-degree coverage. The larger A321 airframe provides greater internal space for sophisticated electronic, intelligence, and command systems critical for network-centric warfare. The aircraft will integrate Electronic Intelligence (ELINT), Signals Intelligence (SIGINT), and Electro-Optical/Infrared sensors, linked to the Indian Air Force’s Integrated Air Command and Control System for real-time data sharing. Modification of the A321s will be conducted in France, with mission system integration in India. Scheduled delivery spans 2033–2034, marking a strategic step toward self-reliance and enhanced surveillance capability, strengthening India’s deterrence in the region amid evolving security challenges. The project also involves key domestic aerospace players such as Adani Defence & Aerospace, underscoring the Make in India initiative.