IndiaPosted at: Nov 15 2026 5:54PM


IAF’s 13 Base Repair Depot marks 50 years of service, holds seminar on Air Defence 2040

New Delhi, Nov 15 (UNI) The Indian Air Force’s 13 Base Repair Depot (BRD) marked 50 years of distinguished service with a seminar on ‘Air Defence 2040: Sensors, Networks and Sovereign Sustainment’ at the Manekshaw Centre in the national capital, highlighting the growing importance of indigenous capabilities, advanced technologies and life-cycle support in strengthening the country’s air defence architecture.
The seminar was presided over by Air Marshal Yalla Umesh, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Maintenance Command, and brought together senior military officers, veterans, representatives of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), academia and defence industry partners.
Established in 1976, 13 BRD has been a key component of the IAF’s maintenance infrastructure, specialising in the repair, overhaul and life-cycle support of critical radar and communication equipment. Tracing its origins to the Radar and Communication Project Office, the depot has played an important role in maintaining the operational availability and reliability of essential air defence systems over the past five decades.
In his welcome address, the Air Officer Commanding of the depot highlighted its evolution and contributions to the IAF, while acknowledging the role of veterans in building its capabilities. He also underlined the need to strengthen indigenous engineering and industrial capacities to address the emerging requirements of Air Defence 2040.
Addressing the gathering, Air Marshal Yalla Umesh stressed that the effectiveness of an air defence system depended not merely on its technological sophistication but also on its operational availability and ability to remain mission-ready.
He emphasised that maintenance and sustainment considerations must be incorporated at the equipment design and induction stages rather than treated as subsequent requirements. Sovereign sustainment, he said, involved developing the domestic capability to diagnose, repair and restore sophisticated defence systems within the country.
The Air Marshal also called upon industry partners to focus on developing equipment backed by indigenous testing facilities, repair infrastructure and comprehensive life-cycle support, in line with the country's broader defence self-reliance objectives.
The seminar featured expert deliberations on emerging technologies and their implications for future air defence operations. Discussions covered quantum sensing, life-cycle management, modernisation of air defence radars and network-centric air defence systems, highlighting the need for greater integration of sensors, communication networks and maintenance capabilities.
A significant highlight of the event was the successful demonstration of hydrogen fuel cell technology for powering IAF radars, undertaken in partnership with the National Green Hydrogen Mission and NTPC.
The initiative showcased the potential of clean energy solutions in supporting radar operations, particularly in challenging operational environments where reliable power supply and energy autonomy are critical to sustained military operations.
The demonstration also underlined the scope for integrating alternative energy technologies into defence infrastructure to improve operational resilience while reducing dependence on conventional energy sources.
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