The Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed a contract for Modernisation of Air Field Infrastructure (MAFI) of 37 airfields for Indian Air Force (IAF), Indian Navy (IN) and Indian Coast Guard (ICG) with Tata Power SED (TPSED) at a cost of nearly Rs 1,200 crore on 8 May.
While 24 of these airfields belong to the IAF, 9 of them are from the Navy and two each from Indian Coast Guard and Aviation Research Centre under the Cabinet Secretariat.
In Phase-1, in 2011, in one of the biggest private sector engagement in the defence sector, Tata Power had bagged the over Rs 1,219 crore-contract, against a global defence tender of MoD , for modernization of IAF's 30 airfields and linking the instruments to the ATC.
The MAFI Phase-1 was to be completed in 42 months- by October 2014. But the project was completed by 2018, nearly four years behind schedule.
The Phase-2 deal is a follow-on programme turnkey project that includes installation and commissioning of modern airfield equipment like Cat-II Instrument Landing System (ILS) and Cat II Air Field Lightning System (AFLS), etc. The modern equipment around the airfield will also be directly connected to Air Traffic Control (ATC), thereby providing excellent control of the airfield systems to the air traffic controllers. The upgrade of navigational aids and infrastructure under this project would enhance the operational capability by facilitating air operations of military and civil aircrafts even in poor visibility and adverse weather condition while enhancing aerospace safety.
This upgrade of navigational aids and infrastructure allows air operations by military and civil aircraft even in poor visibility and adverse weather conditions, while also enhancing flight safety.
The contract will provide impetus to the domestic industry in the prevailing situation. The project will give a boost to over 250 micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), which will directly benefit from being involved in execution of various activities of this project. This contract would aid in infusing the much needed capital in the market and boost employment generation in such fields as communications, avionics, information technology, apart from civil and electrical equipment and construction.
