DRDO has launched a key phase in the Netra Mk2 Airborne Early Warning and Control System program by issuing an open tender on December 13, 2025, through its Centre for Airborne Systems (CABS), inviting Indian private aerospace firms to design and manufacture the Metallic Hood—a vital aerodynamic structure housing the Active Antenna Array Unit (AAAU) with dual-sided S-band GaN-based radar panels for 300-degree coverage. This ₹11,000-20,000 crore project, cleared by the Cabinet Committee on Security on July 17, 2025, modifies six ex-Air India Airbus A321 aircraft in collaboration with Airbus Defence and Space in Spain, targeting first delivery by 2026-27 and full operational deployment by 2031-32. The hood must endure Mach 0.8 speeds, -55°C to +70°C temperatures, bird strikes, and maintain radar signal attenuation below 0.5 dB while weighing under 2.2 tonnes, advancing India’s self-reliance in defense manufacturing