The Indian Air Force’s 13 Base Repair Depot marked its Golden Jubilee with a seminar on “Air Defence 2040: Sensors, Networks & Sovereign Sustainment” at the Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi, highlighting the importance of indigenous capabilities in maintaining and supporting critical air defence systems.
The seminar was presided over by Air Marshal Yalla Umesh, VSM, PhD, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the IAF’s Maintenance Command. Senior military officers, veterans, representatives of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), academics and defence industry partners attended the event.
Established in 1976, 13 Base Repair Depot has been a key part of the Indian Air Force’s maintenance ecosystem for five decades. It undertakes the repair, overhaul and life-cycle support of critical radar and communication equipment, contributing to the operational availability and reliability of India’s air defence systems.
Tracing its origins to the Radar and Communication Project Office, the Depot has played an important role in sustaining essential air defence infrastructure. During the seminar, the Air Officer Commanding of the Depot highlighted its five-decade journey, acknowledged the contributions of veterans and emphasised the need to strengthen indigenous engineering and industrial capabilities to meet the evolving requirements of Air Defence 2040.
Addressing the gathering, Air Marshal Yalla Umesh said the effectiveness of an air defence system ultimately depends on its operational availability. He stressed that sustainment capabilities must be integrated into equipment design and induction rather than treated as a requirement only after deployment.
He described sovereign sustainment as the ability to diagnose, repair and restore sophisticated defence systems within the country. Calling for stronger collaboration with industry, he urged defence manufacturers to develop equipment supported by indigenous testing, repair and life-cycle management capabilities.
The discussions at the seminar covered emerging technologies and future requirements in air defence, including quantum sensing, life-cycle management and the modernisation of radar systems and network-centric air defence capabilities.
Hydrogen fuel cell technology demonstrated for IAF radars
A key highlight of the event was the successful demonstration of hydrogen fuel cell technology for powering Indian Air Force radars. The initiative, undertaken in partnership with the National Green Hydrogen Mission and NTPC, marks an important step towards exploring clean energy solutions for defence operations.
The technology has the potential to improve operational resilience and energy autonomy while supporting the sustainable deployment of air defence systems, particularly in challenging operational environments.
(PIB)
