UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — IAF gets Final Operational Clearance of indigenous Airborne Early Warning & Control system ‘Netra’

Q1. The indigenous 'Netra' AEW&C system, which received Final Operational Clearance in 2026, was developed with which one of the following as the sole nodal development agency?

  • A. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)
  • B. Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL)
  • C. Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
  • D. Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO)

Q2. Netra AEW&C system led design, system integration and testing was carried out by which one of the following DRDO laboratories acting as the nodal lab?

  • A. Centre for Airborne Systems (CABS), Bengaluru
  • B. Electronics and Radar Development Establishment (LRDE), Bengaluru
  • C. Defence Avionics Research Establishment (DARE), Bengaluru
  • D. Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), Bengaluru

Q3. With reference to the indigenous Netra Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) system, consider the following statements: 1. Its nodal developing laboratory is the Centre for Airborne Systems (CABS) of DRDO. 2. It is a programme under the Ministry of Defence. 3. It was granted Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) in 2017. 4. Its mission systems are integrated on the Ilyushin Il-76 heavy-lift platform. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Its nodal developing laboratory is the Centre for Airborne Systems (CABS) of DRDO.
  2. It is a programme under the Ministry of Defence.
  3. It was granted Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) in 2017.
  4. Its mission systems are integrated on the Ilyushin Il-76 heavy-lift platform.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • C. 2, 3 and 4 only
  • D. 1 and 4 only

Q4. With reference to airborne surveillance platforms, which one of the following statements correctly distinguishes an 'Airborne Early Warning and Control' (AEW&C) system such as Netra from an 'Airborne Warning and Control System' (AWACS)?

  • A. An AEW&C is generally mounted on a smaller aircraft with a dorsal antenna giving limited (sub-360°) radar coverage, whereas an AWACS uses a larger platform providing full 360° coverage
  • B. An AEW&C always operates fully autonomously without any link to ground control, whereas an AWACS is invariably controlled remotely from the ground
  • C. An AEW&C can detect only sea-surface targets, whereas an AWACS detects exclusively airborne targets
  • D. An AEW&C is always unarmed and surveillance-only, whereas every AWACS necessarily carries air-to-air weapons

Q5. Which one of the following is India's first indigenously developed Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) system?

  • A. Netra
  • B. Phalcon
  • C. Netra Mk2 (AEW&C Mk-2)
  • D. Swordfish

Q6. Which one of the following correctly describes the primary sensor of the indigenously developed Netra Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) system that received Final Operational Clearance in 2026?

  • A. An indigenous S-band Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar developed by DRDO
  • B. An imported X-band mechanically scanned slotted-array radar
  • C. A fixed triangular ELTA phased-array radar procured from Israel
  • D. An L-band rotating circular radome radar of US origin

Q7. With reference to India's airborne early warning fleet, consider the following statements regarding the systems and their identification: 1. The Phalcon AWACS is mounted on the Ilyushin IL-76 platform and was procured from Israel. 2. The Netra AEW&C (Mark 1) carries its mission systems on the Embraer EMB-145 platform. 3. The Netra AEW&C uses an indigenous AESA radar developed by DRDO. 4. The Phalcon AWACS uses an indigenous AESA radar developed by DRDO. Which of the statements given above is/are correctly identified?

  1. The Phalcon AWACS is mounted on the Ilyushin IL-76 platform and was procured from Israel.
  2. The Netra AEW&C (Mark 1) carries its mission systems on the Embraer EMB-145 platform.
  3. The Netra AEW&C uses an indigenous AESA radar developed by DRDO.
  4. The Phalcon AWACS uses an indigenous AESA radar developed by DRDO.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 3
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1 and 4 only

Q8. Which one of the following DRDO laboratories is the nodal establishment for the design and development of the indigenous 'Netra' Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) system?

  • A. Centre for Airborne Systems (CABS), Bengaluru
  • B. Electronics & Radar Development Establishment (LRDE), Bengaluru
  • C. Defence Avionics Research Establishment (DARE), Bengaluru
  • D. Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE), Bengaluru

Q9. With reference to certain DRDO laboratories and their primary mandates, consider the following statements: 1. The Centre for Airborne Systems (CABS) is the nodal DRDO laboratory for the indigenous Airborne Early Warning and Control programme. 2. The Electronics & Radar Development Establishment (LRDE) is mandated to design and develop gas-turbine engines for military aircraft. 3. Both CABS and LRDE are located in Bengaluru. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The Centre for Airborne Systems (CABS) is the nodal DRDO laboratory for the indigenous Airborne Early Warning and Control programme.
  2. The Electronics & Radar Development Establishment (LRDE) is mandated to design and develop gas-turbine engines for military aircraft.
  3. Both CABS and LRDE are located in Bengaluru.
  • A. 1 and 3 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q10. In the context of Atmanirbhar Bharat in defence, the 'SRIJAN' portal is best described as which one of the following?

  • A. A portal on which DPSUs, OFB and Service Headquarters display items they import so that Indian industry, MSMEs and start-ups can develop them for import substitution
  • B. A portal through which foreign OEMs register their End-User certificates before exporting weapon systems to India
  • C. A DRDO portal that releases AESA radar and avionics source code to private firms for licensed production
  • D. A SEBI-regulated platform on which defence DPSUs raise capital for indigenisation projects