What is the full form of AWACS? Check List of AEW Aircrafts in India and Pakistan

The Airborne Warning and Control System is the full name of AWACS. It is an aircraft with high-tech radar and sensor equipment that is used to offer early warning, surveillance, command, control, and communication during operations. AWACS planes pick up airborne and surface targets and provide situational awareness and coordination for air defense and battlefield management. 

These systems are vital for expanding radar coverage beyond terrestrial boundaries, particularly over seas or mountainous regions, and are employed worldwide for military and civilian air traffic control alike.

AEW Aircraft in India

India has a variety of Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft, with current plans for modernization and fleet expansion to boost its aerial surveillance and command capacity.

Current AEW&C Fleet

• Netra (Embraer ERJ-145 platform):

India has three Netra AEW&C aircraft currently operational based on the Brazilian Embraer ERJ-145 regional jet. The aircraft are fitted with domestic AESA radar systems produced by DRDO, which offer 240-degree radar coverage. The Netra system employs a dual flat antenna array on top of the fuselage, much like the Swedish Erieye radar configuration.

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• Ilyushin Il-76 A-50E:

India also has three Russian-supplied Ilyushin Il-76-based A-50E AWACS aircraft, which are a strategic airborne warning platform with extended-range radar coverage.

Upcoming and Future AEW&C Projects

• Netra Mk 1A (Upgraded Embraer ERJ-145):
  The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) cleared the procurement of six improved Netra Mk 1A aircraft in March 2025. They will be equipped with active electronically scanned array (AESA) radars with transmit/receive modules based on gallium nitride to provide better detection and tracking capabilities. These aircraft will carry forward some of the advanced technologies of the Mk 2 variant and are likely to improve considerably the AEW&C capabilities of the IAF. 

• Netra Mk 2 (Airbus A321 platform):

India is going to convert six Airbus A321 planes, acquired from Air India, into AEW&C aircraft. They will be refitted to military standards in France prior to the installation of radar and sensor suites by DRDO. Mk 2 variant will feature a wider radar array, with an extra nose-mounted antenna, for 300-degree radar coverage. The first Mk 2 aircraft will be delivered by 2026-27. The project costs about ₹11,000 crore (about US$1.5 billion).

• Previous Airbus A330 AEW&C Plans:

India was planning to transform six Airbus A330 aircraft into AEW&C platforms with a huge 360-degree AESA radar dome carrying L-band and S-band antennas for maximum detection. But this project was canceled most probably because of economic constraints.

AEW Aircraft in Pakistan

Pakistan also has AEW&C aircraft for boosting its air defense and surveillance capabilities-

• Saab 2000 AEW&C:

Pakistan Air Force operates the Saab 2000 AEW&C aircraft, which are fitted with the Erieye radar system. These aircraft have 270-degree radar coverage and are an important part of Pakistan's airborne early warning capability.

• Chinese KJ-200 AEW&C:

Pakistan has also been indicated to have ordered or is ordering Chinese KJ-200 AEW&C planes, which are built on the Shaanxi Y-8 airframe and fitted with phased array radars, giving increased surveillance and command capacity.

AEW&C Aircraft in India and Pakistan

AWACS, or Airborne Warning and Control System, is critical to contemporary air defense with early detection, tracking, and command features. India has developed impressive indigenous AEW&C systems such as the Netra series while upgrading its fleet with advanced platforms like the Airbus A321-based Netra Mk 2. Pakistan operates a capable AEW&C fleet with Saab 2000 and Chinese KJ-200 aircraft. Both nations still invest in these vital airborne surveillance assets to keep strategic airspace control and improve their military operational effectiveness.

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India's indigenous modernization with Netra AEW&C and Russia-sourced Phalcon systems, in addition to Pakistan's Saab Erieye and Chinese KJ-200, have influenced air-to-air battles and air defense operations. As the war escalates, these airborne platforms become pivotal to both offensive operations and air defense countermeasures, leaving no doubt about their strategic value in contemporary warfare.

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