Nagpur. 29 January 2024. Minister of State for Defence, Ajay Bhatt visited HQ Maintenance Command, Nagpur on 28 Jan 24. He was received by Air Marshal Vibhas Pande, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Maintenance Command. Ajay Bhatt interacted with senior officers of HQ Maintenance Command.
The Honourable Raksha Rajya Mantri was given a presentation on the “Role of Maintenance Command in the IAF”. The Minister was briefed on the history, the strategic nature of the Maintenance Command and the challenges faced in ensuring availability of IAF assets. He was apprised of the innovations and major projects undertaken at various Base Repair Depots and a number of projects which are in progress involving industries under ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan.’ The Hon’ble Minister appreciated that the Indian Air Force is on course to create a self-relianct defence ecosystem under the ‘Make in India’ initiative jointly with the private industries, Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), Academia and the R&D labs 
across the country. The primary focus of these projects is on repair and overhaul of aero-engines, airframe and associated aggregates apart from the life extension studies and refurbishments of weapon systems related to Russian fighters, transport and helicopter fleets.
The Honourable Raksha Rajya Mantri urged the officer to embrace technological innovations and also be a catalyst of change in smart and bold usage of technology which would dominate the future battlefield. He further said that in order to transform into a modern integrated fighting force we need to accept transition from old order to the new and reduce dependency on foreign technology. He appreciated the efforts of Maintenance Command in its contribution in achieving the goal of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat.’
