DRDO inks two major contracts with Industry partners as part of AEW&C MK-II programme

📌 Summary:

• DRDO's Centre for Air Borne Systems (CABS) signed two contracts on 22 July 2026 to advance the AEW&C Mk-II programme, a boost to Aatmanirbhar Bharat in defence
• Contract 1 with AI Engineering Services Ltd (AIESL), New Delhi — for converting six A321 aircraft from commercial to green (military) configuration
• Contract 2 with Adani Defence Systems and Technologies Ltd (ADSTL), Ahmedabad — as Development-cum-Production Partner (DcPP) for the Mission Systems
• CABS is the nodal lab; Airbus Defence & Space is the OEM delivering the modified platform; flight-testing and certification to be done with the IAF via CEMILAC and DGAQA
• AEW&C Mk-II will deliver enhanced endurance, airborne surveillance, secure communication, improved situational awareness and command-and-control, boosting air-defence capability at extended ranges and helping neutralise threats

🎯 UPSC Relevance: GS3 Science & Technology — indigenisation of defence platforms and the Aatmanirbhar Bharat push in defence manufacturing via public-private partnership

📝 Prelims Facts:

• AEW&C = Airborne Early Warning and Control (an "eye in the sky" radar aircraft)
• CABS is the DRDO nodal laboratory; the Mk-II platform is based on the Airbus A321
• Airworthiness/certification agencies: CEMILAC and DGAQA

🔑 Key Term: AEW&C — an aircraft-mounted radar and command system for long-range detection, tracking and control of airborne and surface threats