IAF’s 13 Base Repair Depot marks 50 years with focus on future air defence technologies
By Aroonim Bhuyan
New Delhi. The Indian Air Force’s (IAF) 13 Base Repair Depot (BRD) has completed 50 years of service, marking the milestone with a seminar in New Delhi that focused on emerging technologies, modernisation of air defence systems and strengthening indigenous maintenance capabilities.
The seminar, titled ‘Air Defence 2040: Sensors, Networks & Sovereign Sustainment’, was held at the Manekshaw Centre and presided over by Air Marshal Yalla Umesh, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C), Maintenance Command. It brought together senior military officers, veterans, representatives of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), academic institutions and leading defence industry partners.
Established in 1976, 13 BRD has been an important part of the IAF’s maintenance and technical support 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 a significant 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 13 BRD outlined the organisation’s journey and acknowledged the contributions of its veterans. He also stressed the importance of developing indigenous engineering and industrial capabilities to address the changing technological and operational requirements of India’s future air defence architecture.
Addressing the seminar, Air Marshal Yalla Umesh underlined that the effectiveness of an air defence system depended not only on its technological sophistication but also on its operational availability and ability to remain functional when required.
He emphasised that maintenance and sustainment considerations must be incorporated into the design and induction of military equipment rather than treated as subsequent requirements. Explaining the concept of sovereign sustainment, he said India must possess the domestic capability to diagnose faults, repair sophisticated equipment and restore complex defence systems without depending on external support.
The Maintenance Command chief called upon defence industry partners to develop equipment supported by indigenous testing, repair and life-cycle management capabilities. Such an approach, he said, would strengthen India’s defence self-reliance and ensure the long-term availability of critical military assets.
The seminar featured expert discussions on emerging technologies and their implications for future air defence operations. Key areas included quantum sensing, life-cycle management, modernisation of air defence radars and the development of network-centric air defence capabilities.
A notable highlight 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 demonstrated the potential of clean energy technologies to support radar operations while improving energy autonomy, operational resilience and the sustainability of air defence infrastructure. Such solutions could be particularly relevant in remote and challenging operational environments where dependable power supplies are essential for maintaining uninterrupted surveillance and air defence operations.
The 50-year milestone of 13 BRD comes at a time when the IAF is seeking to modernise its air defence architecture through advanced sensors, integrated networks and greater indigenous technological capabilities. The emphasis on sovereign sustainment also reflects the growing recognition that operational readiness depends as much on the ability to maintain and upgrade sophisticated military systems as on their initial acquisition.
The seminar provided a platform for military users, research institutions, academia and industry to exchange views on these requirements and explore ways to strengthen India’s future air defence ecosystem.
