India's surveillance aircraft 'Netra' gets operational clearance

India's domestically developed surveillance aircraft 'Netra' has received final operational clearance for military use, strengthening the country's defence capabilities. The aircraft, built by India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), has been given operational clearance by the Ministry of Defence, making it fully ready for use in Indian armed forces operations.

'Netra' is essentially an airborne early warning and control system. It can track enemy fighter jets, missiles and other aerial targets using advanced radar and sensor technology, while also coordinating air combat and providing real-time intelligence to ground forces.

According to a DRDO statement, 'Netra' is mounted on a Brazilian Embraer ERJ-145 aircraft and features an advanced active electronically scanned array radar and electronic intelligence technology, capable of detecting and tracking targets up to 450-500 kilometres away.

Experts have noted similarities between the technology used in 'Netra' and Israel's Falcon surveillance system, though 'Netra' has a 240-degree coverage compared to Falcon's 360-degree capability.

India had previously acquired three Falcon systems from Israel at a cost of approximately Rs 8,107 crore, mounted on Russian IL-76 transport aircraft. The Falcon system played a key role in India's 2019 operation in Balakot, Pakistan, and was also used in last year's Operation Sindoor.

Some Indian media reports claim that 'Netra' was also tested during Operation Sindoor without formal announcement, though the defence authorities have not officially confirmed this.

Source: The Hindu