New Delhi: The Indian Air Force will be provided with 6 Nethra-1 aircraft to strengthen aerial surveillance along the China-Pakistan border. The feature of Nethra is that it helps in aerial surveillance for kilometers without crossing the border. The Netra-1 Airborne Early Warning and Control Aircraft is indigenously designed in the country based on the Brazilian Embraer aircraft.
The Air Force currently has two Nethra-1 aircraft developed by the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO). As part of the new mandate, six more Nethra-1 aircraft will be procured under the Rs 8,000-crore-plus project. Embraer ERJ-145 aircraft will be converted into Nethra-1 aircraft by making necessary modifications and handed over to the force. Nethra is designed to detect enemy aircraft at a distance of more than 300 km and control the battle zone.
DRDO had earlier planned to build six Airborne Warning And Control System (AWACS) on one Airbus 330 aircraft. DRDO is currently making necessary modifications to A-321 aircraft for the Nethra-2 project to build surveillance aircraft.
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