The Indian Air Force's 13 Base Repair Depot marked 50 years of distinguished service on 15 November 2026 with a seminar titled 'Air Defence 2040: Sensors, Networks & Sovereign Sustainment' at the Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi. The event brought together senior military leadership, veterans, defence scientists, academics, and leading industry partners to chart the roadmap for self-reliant air defence sustainment over the coming decades.

Key Address and Core Message

Air Marshal Yalla Umesh, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of IAF Maintenance Command, presided over the seminar and delivered its central message: operational availability, not mere procurement, is the true measure of an air defence system's effectiveness. He stressed that sustainment must be embedded into equipment design and induction from day one, rather than treated as an afterthought.

Air Marshal Umesh defined sovereign sustainment as the nation's ability to independently diagnose, repair, and restore sophisticated defence systems on home soil. He called on industry partners to design equipment with indigenous testing, repair, and full life-cycle support capabilities — a direct reinforcement of India's broader Atmanirbhar Bharat vision in defence.

Five Decades of Service

Established in 1976 and tracing its origins to the Radar and Communication Project Office, the 13 Base Repair Depot has been a foundational pillar of the IAF's maintenance ecosystem for half a century. Over these 50 years, it has undertaken repair, overhaul, and life-cycle support of critical radar and communication equipment, playing a pivotal role in sustaining the operational readiness of vital air defence systems. The Depot's commanding officer, in his welcome address, acknowledged the contributions of veterans and underscored the urgency of building indigenous engineering and industrial capabilities ahead of Air Defence 2040.

Emerging Technologies on the Agenda

The seminar featured expert deliberations on a range of frontier technologies, including quantum sensing, life-cycle management of ageing platforms, and the modernisation of air defence radars and network-centric air defence architectures. These discussions reflect a broader IAF shift from platform-centric to network-centric operational thinking — a transition that places new demands on repair and sustainment infrastructure.

Hydrogen Fuel Cell Milestone for IAF Radars

A standout highlight of the event was the demonstration of hydrogen fuel cell technology for powering IAF radars, developed in partnership with the National Green Hydrogen Mission and NTPC. This marks a significant milestone in sustainable radar operations, with hydrogen fuel cells offering the potential for enhanced operational resilience, energy autonomy, and cleaner deployment of air defence systems — particularly in remote and high-altitude operational environments where logistics chains are stretched. The initiative signals that India's military is beginning to integrate clean energy strategies into its operational doctrine, not merely its peacetime infrastructure. As the IAF looks to Air Defence 2040, the convergence of sovereign sustainment, emerging sensor technologies, and green energy solutions will define whether India can truly indigenise not just its hardware, but its entire defence support ecosystem.