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location close to the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). [ AIR SYSTEMS ]

‘Netra’ Airborne Early Warning and Control
(AEW&C)
This indigenous system is now operational with the IAF and the
second AEW&C aircraft was handed over by CABS to the air force
in September 2019, to augment the service’s network centric capa-
bilities. The aircraft are based at Bhatinda Air Force Station in
Punjab. The Netra AEW&C comprises of an Active Electronically
Scanned Array (AESA) radar, secondary surveillance radar, elec-
tronic and communication countermeasures, beyond line-of-sight
data links, satellite communication systems, an advanced identifi-
cation friend or- foe system. delivers a significant improvement in range and
endurance.
The primary radar provides 240° coverage and a surveillance
range of more than 250 km. The new AEW&C platforms also work With the recent retirement of the swing-wing
closely with the IAF’s Integrated Air Command and Control System MiG-27 UPGs of the IAF, the Jaguars are now
(IACCS). This fully indigenous project will integrate all sensors to the sole ground attack type in service. HAL is
provide a composite Air Situation Picture and aids in quick decision undertaking the upgrade of the obsolescent
making. Jaguar DARIN I variant to the much more capa-
ble Jaguar DARIN-III. Deliveries of upgraded
Fighter Upgrades Jaguar DARIN IIIs started in December 2019,
Indian fighter aircraft are also receiving upgrades which have following completion of flight trials for Final
dramatically upgraded their capabilities. The Mirage 2000 UPG Operational Clearance (FOC) in November
programme has received Final Operational Clearance (FOC) D&D 2019. HAL has integrated new mission comput-
and production upgrades are underway at HAL’s Bangalore facility. ers, cockpit displays (SMDs, Engine and Flight
The first two upgraded Mirage-2000 aircraft arrived in India in April Instrumentation System – EFIS), an Israeli Fire
2015. Upgraded MiG-29 UPGs are now in operational with front- Control Radar, Hybrid navigation system and an
line squadrons and are being used for operations. The upgraded autopilot with advanced modes. The integration
aircraft feature state of the art avionics, new air to air and air to of the radar and upgrade to a full glass cockpit
ground weapons and the addition of in-flight refuelling capability has transformed the capability of the Jaguar.

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