IAF chief seeks synergy in defence projects

Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha Sunday stressed the need for synergy among stakeholders on defence projects.

"As the Indian Air Force (IAF), defence production department and Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) are working on important projects, synergy is imperative to execute them on time for defence preparedness," he said during a visit to the state-run defence behemoth's production facilities here.

Raha also reviewed the projects HAL is executing for the IAF with its chairman R.K. Tyagi and senior officials.

Along with defence production secretary G.C. Pati, the air chief inspected HAL's production and overhaul facilities for advance jet trainer Hawk, Mirage and Jaguar fighters.

HAL said in a statement: "Raha also visited the new Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas division while Pati unveiled the Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) helicopter transmission test facilities in the aero complex adjacent to the old airport."

Raha visited the IAF's 26 Equipment Depot, logistics storage sites and its integrated material management online systems server room in the city.

The Air Chief lauded the depot's efforts in maintaining high operational status of legacy equipment of Jaguar, Kiran and Chetak/Chetah aircraft.

"In his interaction with the depot personnel, Raha shared his vision for transforming the IAF into a strategic power with full spectrum capability and urged all air warriors to make the vision a reality," a defence spokesman said.

As an interface between the IAF and HAL, the depot provides repairable units and spares to the military aircraft and handles its various weapon systems.

Raha, who assumed office Jan 1, Saturday visited HAL's Nashik facility about 170 km from Mumbai in Maharashtra for a firsthand account of Sukhoi 30-MKI fighter, which is manufactured under licence production with the Russian firm.