By Aritra Banerjee
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh urged joint efforts to develop India as a Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) hub at a seminar organised by the Indian Air Force (IAF) during Aero India 2023 on Tuesday. The seminar, ‘Sustenance in MRO and Obsolescence Mitigation: Op capability Enhancers in Aerospace Domain,’ emphasised the need for MRO services to protect India’s defence equipment and systems and to boost the morale of the Indian defence forces by using indigenous equipment.
Earlier in the day, Singh spoke about the need to ensure Indian aircraft flew with indigenously-made engines, did not explicitly refer to the Russia-Ukraine war but said that India was taking steps to strengthen its defence sector “due to geo-political developments.” He also stressed the importance of self-confidence and the morale of the defence forces, which can be boosted by using indigenous equipment.
Air Chief Marshal V R Chaudhari, who was also present at the event, emphasised the contributions of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and start-ups towards upgrading and sustaining legacy fleets. He also pointed out the vast potential for overhaul through part testing and outsourcing.
The seminar served as a platform to discuss the importance of MRO services for the protection and maintenance of India’s defence equipment and systems. The event highlighted the potential for MSMEs and start-ups to contribute towards upgrading and sustaining legacy fleets and the need for joint efforts to develop India as an MRO hub. The seminar showcased the IAF’s commitment to strengthening the country’s defence sector and moving towards indigenously-made equipment to safeguard the country’s defence capabilities.
