By N. C. Bipindra
New Delhi: The Indian Air Force’s move to acquire six additional Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft marks a decisive step toward reshaping how India fights future wars, with an emphasis on information dominance, real-time battlefield awareness, and network-centric operations.
By issuing a Request for Information (RFI) on January 5, 2026, for six AEW&C platforms along with associated ground infrastructure, the IAF has signalled urgency in plugging a critical capability gap at a time of sustained tensions along the northern and western borders.
According to the RFI, the AEW&C platform is envisioned as a “system of systems” designed to provide long-range radar detection and battle management.
It integrates radar, Identification Friend or Foe (IFF), electronic and communication support measures, command and control (C2), battle management systems, and secure data links.
Together, these capabilities allow commanders to see deep into hostile airspace, coordinate air and ground assets in real time, and rapidly respond to threats ranging from low-flying drones to hypersonic weapons.
While the IAF has not named a specific aircraft, the operational requirements underline the ambition of the programme.
The platform must have an endurance of at least 10 hours or be capable of mid-air refuelling, operate at altitudes up to 45,000 feet, and function from high-altitude airfields around 10,000 feet above sea level.
A 360-degree mission suite capable of detecting everything from slow-moving targets to hypersonic vehicles, backed by satellite-based navigation, communications, and self-protection systems, is central to the requirement.
Several platforms are under consideration. These include Airbus A-320 aircraft acquired from Air India for potential military conversion and Embraer Legacy executive jets, three of which have already been indigenously converted into the ‘Netra’ AEW&C by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
DRDO is also developing more advanced Netra variants, featuring around 15 airborne sub-systems and multiple ground-based elements, aimed at significantly enhancing surveillance depth and resilience.
In parallel, DRDO has selected the Bombardier Global 6500 as the platform for its ISTAR programme, indicating a broader shift toward high-end airborne intelligence and targeting capabilities.
At present, the IAF operates just five AEW&C platforms, of which three are Beriev A-50 AWACS based on Russian IL-76 airframes with Israeli sensors, inducted nearly two decades ago, and two operational Netra systems, with a third retained by DRDO.
This limited fleet constrains India’s ability to maintain continuous airborne surveillance across multiple fronts.
The strategic implications are stark when viewed against regional comparisons.
China fields a large and diverse AEW&C fleet, including 20 Shaanxi KJ-500s, four KJ-200s, and four KJ-2000s.
Pakistan operates four Chinese ZDK-03 Karakoram Eagles and eight Saab 2000 Erieye aircraft, one of which was possibly lost during an IAF operation in May 2025.
In contrast, India’s numbers remain modest.
Recognising this imbalance, the IAF has projected a requirement for at least 12 AEW&C aircraft.
A Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence report last year noted that the IAF has already initiated two programmes for six AEW&C aircraft each, along with a separate special-role aircraft project.
If executed on time, this procurement could fundamentally alter India’s warfighting doctrine, shifting from platform-centric operations to a data-driven, networked battlespace where information superiority, early warning, and rapid decision-making become decisive force multipliers.
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