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IAF plans to indigenise manufacture of spares

Josy Joseph in New Delhi

The Indian Air Force proposes to indigenise the manufacture of more than 8,000 items this year in an attempt to overcome its dependence on uncertain foreign markets.

The IAF, which buys spares worth more than Rs 20 billion annually, is pursuing an aggressive agenda for indigenisation with the active participation of the private sector.

"We have already indigenised over a lakh [100,000] spare parts and other items over the years. This year we are looking at indigenising over 8,000 spares," assistant chief of air staff (maintenance plans), Air Vice Marshal G K Kwatra, said in New Delhi on Tuesday.

He told reporters that the IAF is on a drive to find crucial spares for its aircraft, engines, missiles, radar, communication systems and aircraft support vehicles.

The IAF says the "ever-increasing costs of imports and dependence on foreign vendors" has forced it to indigenise. The air force operates more than 20 different types of aircraft and several radars, other support systems and weapons. Most of the aircraft are from Russia, but the IAF also has French and British planes.

The air force has made steady progress in indigenisation and increased the number of Indian industries involved with the effort from 200 to 800 in the last three years, AVM Kwatra said.

He said the IAF is pursuing indigenisation to ensure continuous supplies, especially during war. The attempt is also in keeping with the national objective of 70 per cent indigenisation by the year 2005 as envisaged by the Self-Reliance Implementation Council of the government.

Starting from 1994, the IAF has been collaborating with the Confederation of Indian Industry to organise interaction between the end-user and industry. As a fallout, a series of exposition-cum-seminars have been held jointly with the CII at Nasik, Bangalore, Chandigarh, Pune and Calcutta over the last three years.

"These attempts have proved successful in providing an interactive forum for the IAF and industry to understand and identify the requirements of the IAF vis-a-vis the industry's perception and capabilities to meet them," a statement on the latest exhibition, to be held in New Delhi, said.

A national-level exposition-cum-seminar is being organised at the Air Force Auditorium, Subroto Park, New Delhi, on September 7 and 8, in collaboration with the CII and the Aeronautical Society of India.

The exhibition, 'National Exposition on IAF -- Industry Joint Venture Programme on Indigenisation', will feature expert presentations by senior officials of the IAF, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and other agencies.

"The exhibition will aim at showcasing important and critical requirements for IAF and other aviation agencies," AVM Kwatra said.

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