The Indian government has approved the procurement of six Netra MkII Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft for ₹19,000 crore, significantly enhancing the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) surveillance and command capabilities. These next-generation systems, developed indigenously by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in collaboration with Indian firms and Airbus, will be modified from pre-owned Airbus A321 airframes acquired from Air India. Featuring advanced GaN-based Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar with dorsal and nose-mounted antennas for 300-degree coverage, the aircraft offer improved detection range, tracking of multiple threats, and real-time situational awareness. Equipped with electronic intelligence suites, secure communication links, and data networks, they function as airborne command centers, more than doubling the IAF’s current fleet of three Phalcon AWACS and two Netra Mk1 systems. Deliveries are expected to begin in 2026-27, with full induction by 2033-34.