IAF receives Final Operational Clearance for indigenous Netra AEW&C system
DRDO handed over the Final Operational Clearance certificate of the indigenous 'Netra' Airborne Early Warning and Control system to the Indian Air Force at a ceremony in Bengaluru, Karnataka, on 25 June 2026.
Summary
DRDO handed over the Final Operational Clearance (FOC) certificate of the indigenous 'Netra' Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) system to the Indian Air Force at a ceremony in Bengaluru, Karnataka, on 25 June 2026, presided over by Deputy Chief of the Air Staff Air Marshal Awadhesh Kumar Bharti. Netra was developed jointly by the IAF, DRDO and industry to enhance airborne surveillance, situational awareness and battle management; its Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) was given in 2017. Air Marshal Bharti spoke about the system's operational use and reliability during Operation Sindoor and the Balakot strikes. The ceremony was attended by P Santhya, Director of DRDO's Centre for Air Borne System (CABS), and Dr K Rajalakshmi Menon, Director General of DRDO's Aeronautics Cluster.
Key facts
- Date and place
- 25 June 2026, Bengaluru (Karnataka)
- System
- Netra Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C)
- Milestone
- Final Operational Clearance handed to IAF
- IOC
- 2017
- Presided by
- Air Marshal Awadhesh Kumar Bharti, Deputy Chief of the Air Staff
- Operational use cited
- Operation Sindoor and Balakot strikes
- DRDO lab
- Centre for Air Borne System (CABS)
Practice MCQs 4 questions
'Netra', which received Final Operational Clearance on 25 June 2026, is India's indigenous:
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Correct answer: B — Airborne Early Warning and Control system
Netra is the indigenous Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) system developed by the IAF, DRDO and industry.
Where was the ceremony for handing over the Final Operational Clearance of Netra AEW&C to the IAF held on 25 June 2026?
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Correct answer: A — Bengaluru
The ceremony was held in Bengaluru, Karnataka, on 25 June 2026.
The Netra AEW&C system received its Final Operational Clearance in June 2026. In which year was its Initial Operational Clearance given?
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Correct answer: D — 2017
The Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) of Netra was given in 2017.
Consider the following statements about the Netra AEW&C FOC ceremony (25 June 2026): 1. The ceremony was presided over by the Chief of the Air Staff. 2. The presiding officer spoke about the system's operational use during Operation Sindoor and the Balakot strikes. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — 2 only
Statement 1 is wrong: the ceremony was presided over by the Deputy Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Awadhesh Kumar Bharti. Statement 2 is correct.