What Happened
Indian Air Force Leans on Local Firms and Tech to Keep Jets Flying
The Indian Air Force is leveraging in-house 3D printing, digital twin technology, and a network of 930 Indian firms to address a spares crunch for its largely foreign-origin fleet. This effort has yielded 62,300 indigenised aircraft spares, saving the exchequer Rs 582 crore over the last five years. The IAF’s maintenance requirements are being supported by a range of Indian companies, from established private players to MSMEs, with competencies in mechanical, electrical, electronics, and rubber manufacturing. This development was reported by The New Indian Express.