ENHANCING INDIA'S AIRBORNE SURVEILLANCE CAPABILITIES

Project NETRA represents a proactive initiative by ISRO to safeguard India's interests in space by mitigating the risks posed by space debris and other hazards, says GIRISH LINGANNA

- GIRISH LINGANNA

In the sphere of modern warfare, effective surveillance capabilities are of prime importance for maintaining awareness and safeguarding national security interests. The NETRA Airborne Early Warning & Control System (AEW&CS) aircraft represents a significant advancement in India’s airborne surveillance capabilities, providing critical intelligence, reconnaissance and command functions. The Netra aircraft has played a significant part in improving India’s field of defence and, according to recent reports, Netra aircraft are in talks to be exported to various South American countries.

What is Project Netra?

Project NETRA represents an ambitious endeavour spearheaded by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) aimed at establishing an advanced early warning system in space. The primary objective of this initiative is to detect and monitor potential hazards, such as debris and other threats that pose risks to Indian satellites orbiting Earth.

Under Project NETRA, ISRO intends to deploy a comprehensive network of observational facilities, comprising telescopes, interconnected radars, sophisticated data processing units and a centralized control centre. These components will work together to continuously monitor the space environment, scanning for any signs of impending danger to Indian satellites.

At the core of Project NETRA lies the deployment of cutting-edge telescopes equipped with state-of-the-art technology to survey the vast expanse of space surrounding Earth. These telescopes will serve as the primary means of detecting and tracking debris, defunct satellites and other potentially harmful objects that could collide with operational satellites.