New Delhi: In a major step towards strengthening India’s indigenous defence capabilities under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative, the Centre for Air Borne Systems (CABS), Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has signed two significant contracts with industry partners for the development of the Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) Mk-II Programme.
The first contract has been signed with AI Engineering Services Limited (AIESL), New Delhi, for converting six Airbus A321 commercial aircraft into green configuration, laying the foundation for the development and production of the indigenous AEW&C Mk-II platform.
The second contract has been awarded to Adani Defence Systems and Technologies Limited (ADSTL), Ahmedabad, which will serve as the Development-cum-Production Partner (DcPP) for the mission systems of the AEW&C Mk-II programme. The agreements were signed by the Director, CABS, with representatives of AIESL and ADSTL in the presence of Defence Secretary and Secretary, Department of Defence R&D & Chairman, DRDO, Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh, in New Delhi.
Under the programme, CABS, with support from ADSTL, will integrate advanced mission systems onto the modified AEW&C Mk-II aircraft platform supplied by Airbus Defence & Space. The organisations will also jointly undertake flight testing alongside the Indian Air Force to secure certification from the Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification (CEMILAC) and the Directorate General of Aeronautical Quality Assurance (DGAQA).
The indigenous AEW&C Mk-II system is expected to significantly enhance India’s aerial surveillance capabilities with improved endurance, advanced airborne monitoring, secure communication systems, enhanced situational awareness, and superior command-and-control capabilities. These advancements will strengthen India’s air defence network and improve its ability to detect and neutralise threats over extended operational ranges.
The collaboration with leading Indian industry partners reinforces the Government of India’s commitment to building a robust domestic defence manufacturing ecosystem while accelerating innovation, research, and self-reliance in strategic technologies.