India Weighs Global and Local Options for Next-Gen SIGINT Spy Planes Amid Rising Regional Tensions

India is stepping up efforts to acquire a new generation of airborne surveillance platforms dedicated to signals intelligence (SIGINT) and communications jamming (COMJAM), marking a crucial step in modernising its electronic warfare capabilities. This initiative, jointly spearheaded by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Air Force (IAF), is part of a broader strategy to counter growing threats along its borders—particularly from an increasingly assertive China.

As of March 2025, the competition to supply these critical platforms is heating up, with three major contenders: the US defence giant L3Harris Technologies, France’s Thales Group, and India’s own Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL). Each of these players offers a distinct approach—balancing proven foreign technology with local manufacturing ambitions.

The Mission: Three Advanced Spy Planes for Electronic Dominance

India plans to convert three Airbus A319 aircraft into cutting-edge SIGINT/COMJAM platforms capable of deep electronic reconnaissance. These aircraft will have the ability to detect and intercept enemy radar, communication signals, and electronic emissions, while also jamming and disrupting enemy communications and control systems during times of conflict.

This requirement stems from the need to keep pace with China, whose People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) regularly operates advanced ISR platforms like the KJ-500 and Y-9. With PLA bases like Hotan and Ngari Gunsa located dangerously close to India’s northern frontiers, New Delhi is keen to enhance its own airborne electronic surveillance assets.

L3Harris: Backed by Combat-Proven Tech

L3Harris enters the competition with a strong portfolio of US-tested systems. Known for providing the US Army with ARTEMIS and ARES platforms—based on Bombardier business jets—the company brings proven expertise in SIGINT, electronic warfare (EW), and rapid data processing technologies.

Their proposal for India would likely include high-end electronic intelligence sensors, onboard data analysis tools, and robust jamming suites capable of intercepting enemy transmissions and degrading hostile radar capabilities in real time. From a purely technical perspective, L3Harris offers a mature, combat-tested solution—attractive to those seeking immediate capability with minimal development risk.

However, reliance on American systems could come with strategic constraints, such as export controls, limited customization, and less room for domestic industry involvement—areas where India's policymakers are increasingly cautious.

Thales: Riding the ‘Make in India’ Wave

In contrast, France’s Thales is highlighting its long-standing collaboration with India’s defence sector. The company already plays a role in India's Rafale fighter jet program and has partnered with BEL to form BEL-Thales Systems. Thales also has experience developing France’s CUGE (Capacité Universelle de Guerre Électronique) aircraft—an electronic warfare platform similar in scope to India’s current requirements.

For New Delhi, Thales’s bid holds particular appeal because of its emphasis on local industrial participation, aligning with the government’s 'Make in India' push. This approach not only promises greater technology transfer and domestic job creation but also helps in reducing long-term dependency on foreign suppliers.

Thales is expected to offer modular ISR systems tailored to India’s strategic environment, with the potential to co-develop or locally manufacture key components—a diplomatic and industrial win-win.

BEL: Indigenous Ambitions Face Capability Test

Meanwhile, Bharat Electronics Limited, the homegrown contender, brings with it nationalistic appeal and cost advantages. BEL has already contributed to India’s AEW&C programs, particularly the DRDO-developed Netra system that operates onboard Brazilian Embraer jets.

However, SIGINT and COMJAM capabilities represent a more sophisticated technological frontier. While BEL is trusted for radars and basic EW systems, questions remain about whether it can independently deliver a comprehensive solution matching the precision, miniaturisation, and real-time responsiveness offered by its foreign rivals.

Still, if selected, BEL's involvement would significantly boost indigenous defence manufacturing, encourage further R&D, and offer India full ownership of the technology—crucial from a strategic autonomy perspective.

A Strategic Tug of War

At its core, the contest represents a classic trade-off between performance and sovereignty. L3Harris’s proposal may offer unmatched capabilities, but Thales and BEL appeal to India’s strategic and industrial independence goals. The choice India makes will reflect how it balances urgent defence readiness with long-term self-reliance.

Given the escalating regional tensions, especially with China’s electronic and cyber warfare assets increasingly encroaching on India’s neighbourhood, time is of the essence. The new SIGINT/COMJAM aircraft will play a pivotal role in decoding enemy intentions, disrupting wartime communications, and protecting India’s airspace with an invisible shield of electronic dominance.

The decision will not just define the future of India’s airborne intelligence fleet—it may also shape the path of India’s broader defence procurement philosophy in the years to come.