IAF’s Surveillance Power to Triple as Adani and Embraer Join Forces for Six New Netra Mk1A AEW&C Aircraft

India is preparing for a major leap in its airborne surveillance capabilities as the Indian Air Force (IAF) is set to induct six new Netra Mk1A Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft. These systems will be based on pre-owned Embraer EMB-145 regional jets and will significantly enhance the IAF’s real-time battlefield awareness, airspace monitoring, and threat detection capabilities.

This expansion, once formally cleared by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), will nearly triple the IAF’s current AEW&C capacity, a critical improvement that military planners have long advocated—especially after lessons drawn from aerial skirmishes in 2019 with neighboring Pakistan.

Building on a Proven Platform

The current Netra AEW&C systems, built by DRDO’s Centre for Airborne Systems (CABS), use the same EMB-145 platform and have been in service since the 2010s. They offer 240-degree radar coverage over a range of roughly 450 kilometers and are integrated with Indian-made AESA radar, Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) systems, secure data links, and electronic countermeasure technologies.

The upcoming Mk1A version will build upon this proven design but bring notable improvements in radar range, signal intelligence gathering, threat tracking, and electronic warfare support. These enhancements are designed to address India’s growing airspace security challenges across its western and northern frontiers.

Strategic Partnership: Adani and Embraer

Since the EMB-145 is no longer in production, the plan involves acquiring pre-owned jets from the global market. Brazil’s Embraer, the original manufacturer, will partner with India’s Adani Defence and Aerospace to source suitable airframes. This is a pragmatic approach, leveraging Embraer’s global reach and Adani’s expanding defence industry presence in India.

Adani won’t just help locate the jets—it will also play a central role in converting the commercial EMB-145s into sophisticated military AEW&C platforms. This includes structural modification, installation of radar domes, integrating indigenous mission systems, and carrying out extensive avionics upgrades. Adani’s growing Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) capabilities will also help keep the aircraft service-ready throughout their operational life.

This partnership fits neatly into India’s push for defence self-reliance, as it ensures that high-end systems like Netra are not only designed but also assembled and upgraded within the country.

Why the EMB-145 Still Matters

Despite being out of production, the Embraer EMB-145 remains a reliable and efficient platform. With a range of over 2,800 km and a cruise speed of Mach 0.78, it is well-suited for extended surveillance missions. Its previous successful integration with Indian systems means less development risk and faster deployment timelines for the Mk1A variant.

Careful selection of used airframes will be key. These jets must be structurally sound and capable of handling the additional electronic and structural weight imposed by the AEW&C systems. Once selected, they will undergo significant modification, likely with technical assistance from Embraer engineers, to meet the military standards of the IAF.

Strategic Impact and Forward Path

The addition of these six Netra Mk1A aircraft is only one part of a larger strategy to strengthen India’s airborne surveillance network. In parallel, India is also developing six larger AEW&C systems based on the Airbus A321 platform. These will offer longer endurance and larger radar coverage but will take more time to enter service due to their complexity and scale.

In contrast, the EMB-145 based Netra Mk1A aircraft are expected to be operational sooner, thanks to the maturity of the technology and existing expertise. The IAF’s current use of the EMB-145 for VIP transport also adds logistical familiarity to the equation, further smoothing integration.

With this project, India is not just adding numbers to its fleet—it’s making a qualitative upgrade to its ability to maintain situational awareness in contested skies, coordinate air operations, and respond to threats in real time. In an era of rising regional tensions and the increasing use of drones, cruise missiles, and low-flying aircraft, having more “eyes in the sky” is no longer optional—it’s essential.

The Netra Mk1A initiative, combining indigenous tech, private sector capability, and international collaboration, marks a promising step in India’s defence modernisation journey.