Indian Air Force Seeks Six New AEW&C Aircraft to Boost Airspace Surveillance

New Delhi | January 5, 2026 :Moving ahead with plans to strengthen aerial surveillance and airspace management, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has issued a Request for Information (RFI) to the defence industry for the procurement of six Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft, along with associated ground segment equipment and support facilities.

According to the RFI issued on January 5, the primary role of the AEW&C system is long-range radar detection and airborne battle management. The system is described as a “system of systems” comprising radar, Identification Friend or Foe (IFF), Electronic Surveillance Measures (ESM), Communication Support Measures (CSM), Command and Control (C2), battle management systems, and secure networking through data links.

Operational Requirements

While the RFI does not specify the aircraft platform, it lays down demanding operational parameters. The aircraft must have:

Minimum endurance of 10 hours or mid-air refuelling capability
Service ceiling of at least 45,000 feet
Ability to operate from airfields at altitudes up to 10,000 feet
A 360-degree radar coverage capable of detecting targets ranging from small, slow-moving aircraft to hypersonic vehicles
Advanced satellite-based navigation and communication systems
Comprehensive self-protection and electronic countermeasure suites

Likely Platforms

Based on the specifications, possible candidate platforms include:

Airbus A-320 aircraft, earlier acquired from Air India with the intent of conversion for military roles
Embraer Legacy business jets, three of which have already been indigenously converted into AEW&C platforms by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and inducted as the Netra AEW&C system

The DRDO is currently working on advanced variants of the Netra, featuring a next-generation mission suite comprising around 15 airborne sub-systems, supported by multiple ground-based elements to significantly enhance surveillance and battle management capability.

Broader ISR Push

In a parallel effort, the DRDO last month selected the Bombardier Global 6500 business jet as the platform for its ISTAR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance) programme, underscoring India’s broader push to expand airborne intelligence and surveillance assets.

Current Fleet and Strategic Context

At present, the IAF operates five AEW&C/AWACS platforms, including:

Three Beriev A-50 AWACS, based on Russian IL-76 airframes equipped with Israeli sensors
Two Netra AEW&C aircraft
A third Netra platform currently retained by the DRDO’s Centre for Airborne Systems

Given its operational commitments along the northern and western fronts, the IAF has projected a requirement for at least 12 AEW&C platforms. A report tabled last year by Parliament’s Standing Committee on Defence noted that the IAF has already initiated two separate programmes for six AEW&C aircraft each, in addition to one special-role aircraft programme.

Regional Comparison

India’s AEW&C fleet remains modest when compared to regional adversaries. China operates a fleet exceeding 25 AEW&C and AWACS aircraft, including KJ-500, KJ-200, and KJ-2000 platforms. Pakistan fields 12 AEW&C aircraft, comprising Chinese ZDK-03 Karakoram Eagle and Swedish Saab 2000 Erieye systems—one of which was reportedly neutralised by the IAF during Operation Sindoor.

Outlook

The new AEW&C acquisition is expected to be a critical force multiplier, enhancing India’s situational awareness, air defence coordination, and network-centric warfare capability in an increasingly contested aerial environment.