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Why India Desperately Needs More AWACS Flying Radars to Secure Its Borders
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News18•18-10-2026, 14:30
Why India Desperately Needs More AWACS Flying Radars to Secure Its Borders
- •India currently operates only six airborne warning and control system aircraft to monitor two hostile borders against adversaries with larger fleets.
- •An AWACS provides critical long-range detection capabilities over mountains and the horizon that ground-based radars cannot achieve.
- •The current fleet comprises three Israeli Phalcon systems and three homegrown Netra AEW&C jets with limited 240-degree coverage.
- •While future upgrades like the Netra Mk II are planned using converted Airbus airliners, deliveries are not expected until the early 2030s.
- •A small fleet size creates severe operational strain due to maintenance cycles, crew rest, and the geographical challenge of covering two simultaneous fronts.
Key Questions Answered
India currently operates a limited fleet of six airborne early warning and control aircraft to monitor its borders, consisting of three Israeli Phalcon radars on Russian IL-76 transports and three homegrown Netra AEW&C jets.
DRDO signed two major contracts in July 2026 involving the conversion of six commercial Airbus A321 airliners by Air India’s engineering arm and partnering with Adani Defence to develop the mission systems.
Neighboring countries maintain larger estimated fleets, with China fielding around 40 KJ-500 aircraft and Pakistan credited with nine Saab Erieye aircraft, giving both nations more airborne early warning platforms than India's current six.
