By Admin 
India is taking a big step towards increasing the strength of its AWACS system. In modern warfare, these systems work like a father figure for fighter jets like Rafale, Sukhoi-30MKI and F-35, because they completely monitor the sky and give real-time instructions to the fighter planes.
What is AWACS?
The full name of AWACS is Airborne Warning and Control System. It is called the ‘eye’ of the Air Force in the sky. It detects enemy aircraft, missiles and other threats from a great distance with the powerful radar installed on large aircraft. This information is sent to fighter jets, ground stations and other units in real time. What ground radars cannot see, AWACS sees. It is difficult to fight today’s war without it.
How many AWACS does India have?
At present the Indian Air Force has a total of 6 AWACS systems. Of these:
- 3 Falcon AWACS: This is Israel’s EL/W-2090 system, which is installed on Russia’s IL-76 aircraft. It gives 360 degree coverage and has a range of more than 400 kilometers. Keeps an eye in every direction.
- 3 Netra Mk-1 AWACS: These are completely indigenous, made by DRDO. Deployed on Brazilian Embraer ERJ-145 aircraft. These provide 240 degree coverage and the range is between 250 to 375 km.
It costs 600 to 700 million dollars (about Rs 5,000 to 6,000 crore) to build an advanced AWACS. These are very expensive and important systems.
What is India planning next?
India is rapidly increasing its AWACS strength:
- Netra Mk-1A: 6 more units are proposed. This will be an upgraded version of Mk-1, which will have GaN based AESA radar and better electronic warfare systems. Its approval has been received in March 2025.
- Netra Mk-2: The project of 6 units was approved in July 2025. Cost around Rs 20,000 crore. These will be on Airbus A321 aircraft, with 300-360 degree coverage from nose and dorsal antenna and 400-500 km range. Delivery may start from 2026-27.
In the future, there are plans for next generation AWACS like Mk-3, which may be based on Airbus A330. These will provide more range and 360 degree coverage. All these systems will be connected to the Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS), through which real-time data will be shared between fighter jets, drones and missile batteries.
How many countries have AWACS?
America has systems like E-3 Sentry, Russia has A-50, France-Japan have E-2 Hawkeye. China is said to have around 60 AWACS, while Pakistan has up to 12 with the help of China. India is emphasizing on increasing the numbers in comparison to these so that better monitoring can be done on the borders.