Air Chief Marshall calls for a self reliant Indian aerospace Industry

Business Desk
"Aerospace Industry cannot be managed as just a public sector outfit in the years to come. Indian aerospace and defence industry calls for an immediate need to develop a conducive environment facilitated towards energizing the Aerospace industry" said Air Chief Marshall F M Major, PVSM, AVSM, SC, VM, ADC, Chief of Air Staff, Indian Air Force, addressing the member of the industry, during a session organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

"The modernization bid needs to be integrated with the private setup available in the Industry today" he said. Saying this he announced the 3rd International Conference of "Energizing Indian Aerospace Industry - New Partnerships, New Opportunities" will be held in Delhi from November 7-8, 2008.

Air Chief Marshall highlighted on the need for the aerospace industry to develop certain niche capabilities which could be strategic importance for the country. As India moves ahead in its quest to attain global status, the Indian aerospace industry, both military and civil stands uniquely poised today, on the threshold of catapulting itself into the global arena. Stressing on the need for integrating the Indian aerospace supply chain with the global counterparts, the Chief of the Air Staff claimed that IAF is taking strong steps towards self reliance.

"The industry should keep itself updated with the technology and the development areas of core competencies", he further stated. Considering the immense potential of civil aviation and defence sector, the session threw light on the requirements of the Industry. In the midst of large scale modernization, the India n Air Force industry has been opened up to private players. This presents vast and varied opportunities ranging from every imaginable components of aviation. "In order to meet its goal of reducing dependence on imports, a strategic shift will offer the required thrust towards building skills and infrastructure for engineering and manufacturing in the aerospace sector" he added

Given so many challenges in the growth road map ahead, spiraling cost of oil and the acute shortage of skilled human resource among others, India today is witnessing a dynamic change in the nature of growth of the aerospace sector. The emergence of a transparent policy framework by the government of India and consequent infusion of foreign investment and technology transfers will have a favorable impact on the industry, facilitating the great potential in the civil aviation sector as well.

The Indian Air Force has transformed itself with a definitive strategic orientation, thus acquiring transcontinental dimensions, further strengthening its capabilities with data links, across-the-board networking and real time connectivity with space based assets underway.