Article Posted on : - Oct 09, 2014

IAF helicopters present an air show during the Air Force Day Parade. Photo: PTI.

NAGPUR (PTI): Indian Air Force is keen on engaging private sector players in the area of aircraft maintenance and upgrading that has been affected due to the ongoing turmoil in Ukraine with whom the country has a long-term programme in this field, a top IAF official said on Wednesday.

The IAF wants to promote engagement with the private sector in the area of upgrading of its aircraft. This may soon become a reality, Air Marshal P Kanakaraj, Commanding-in- Chief of Maintenance Command, said here.

The present policy of self-reliance promoted by the Government is being pursued vigorously by the Maintenance Command. IAF's indigenisation programme focuses on key areas of reclamation, refurbishment, upgrading, life extension and replacement of its equipment, he said.

The Air Marshal was addressing a press conference organised on the occasion of 82nd Air Force Day.

The Air Force has realised that private industry is capable of handling most of the IAF's maintenance requirements, he said.

The IAF, whose bulk of jets and hardware are sourced from the former Soviet Union, has suffered due to the ongoing turmoil in Ukraine with whom India has long-term aircraft maintenance and upgrading programme, he said.

The IAF officer said the Nagpur-headquartered Maintenance Command played a key role in rescue and relief operations in Jammu and Kashmir which was battered by devastating floods last month.

Four of its units, based in Palam (Delhi), Chandigarh, Kanpur and Chennai were actively involved in the operations, the Air Marshal added.