India’s Netra MkII Could Mark a Major Leap in India’s Airborne Surveillance Capabilities

India’s Netra MkII AEW&C aircraft could significantly boost the Indian Air Force’s surveillance capability with an indigenous Uttam-derived AESA radar offering 300° coverage and advanced multi-target tracking.

India’s airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) programme may soon enter a completely new technological era. According to recent reports, the upcoming Netra MkII surveillance aircraft is expected to feature an advanced AESA radar derived from the indigenous Uttam radar programme, equipped with nearly 800 transmit-receive modules (TRMs) and capable of providing up to 300-degree radar coverage. If successfully implemented, the system could significantly strengthen India’s ability to monitor hostile aircraft, drones, cruise missiles, and aerial threats across vast distances.

The Netra MkII project is part of India’s broader effort to reduce dependence on imported airborne surveillance platforms while building a more advanced and network-centric air combat ecosystem. Unlike conventional ground-based radars, AEW&C aircraft operate at high altitudes, allowing them to detect low-flying targets that may otherwise remain hidden due to terrain or the curvature of the Earth. In modern warfare, these aircraft effectively act as flying command-and-control centres, coordinating fighters, tracking enemy movement, and supporting real-time battlefield awareness.

What makes the Netra MkII particularly important is the radar technology being integrated into it. The Uttam AESA radar programme, originally developed for fighter aircraft such as the Tejas Mk1A, represents one of India’s biggest indigenous radar achievements. AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array) radars are considered far superior to older mechanically scanned systems because they can track multiple targets simultaneously, switch beams electronically within milliseconds, and offer greater resistance against electronic jamming.

The reported use of nearly 800 TRMs suggests that the radar could offer significantly improved detection range, target tracking capability, and reliability compared to earlier Indian airborne radar systems. TRMs are essentially the core building blocks of an AESA radar. The higher their number and efficiency, the more powerful and precise the radar becomes. This could allow the Netra MkII to monitor crowded airspaces, detect stealthier aerial targets, and provide stronger situational awareness during high-intensity combat scenarios.

Another major feature being discussed is the aircraft’s 300-degree radar coverage. Traditional AEW&C systems often rely on rotating radars or fixed coverage sectors. A wide-area AESA configuration could enable continuous surveillance over a massive operational zone while reducing blind spots. This becomes especially critical considering the growing aerial challenges India faces from both western and northern fronts, including drones, stand-off weapons, and increasingly advanced fighter aircraft in the region.

Strategically, the Netra MkII also reflects the larger transformation taking place inside India’s defence technology ecosystem. Instead of relying entirely on foreign airborne surveillance systems like the Israeli Phalcon AWACS, India is steadily developing domestic expertise in radar electronics, signal processing, mission systems, and network-centric warfare technologies.

The project may still take time before full operational deployment, but its significance is already clear. If successful, the Netra MkII will not simply be another surveillance aircraft—it could become one of the most important force multipliers supporting the future of the Indian Air Force’s integrated air defence and combat operations.