The 11 Base Repair Depot (BRD), the only fighter aircraft repair depot of the Indian Air Force, on Friday handed over the indigenously overhauled Su-30 MKI aircraft to the South Western Air Command at an impressive ceremony held at Ojhar in Nashik district in north Maharashtra.
In a formal ceremony, Air Marshal Hemant Sharma Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, Vishisht Seva Medal Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Maintenance Command gave possession of the indigenously overhauled Su 30 MKI aircraft to Air Marshal HS Arora Ati Vishisht Seva Medal Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of South Western Air Command at an impressive ceremony held at Air Force Station at Ojhar.
The 11 BRD is the only fighter aircraft repair depot of the Indian Air Force and undertakes repair and overhaul of frontline fighters such as MIG-29 and Sukhoi 30 MKI.
Established on 29 Apr 1974 and subsequently renamed as 11 Base Repair Depot on 01 Jan 1975, the BRD progressively built and improved the technical expertise and infrastructure over the years and by 1983 it had overhauled 100 Su-7 aircraft.
From 1983 to 1988, the depot also undertook overhaul of MIG-21 and 28 aircraft were produced. Later, overhaul facility for MIG-23 aircraft was set up in 1986 and 248 aircraft were overhauled till May 2015. Overhaul of MIG-29 aircraft commenced in the year 1996.
Currently, the “Up gradation of MIG-29” and Repair & Overhaul (ROH) at Su-30 MKI aircraft is being undertaken at the depot. In addition, the 11 BRD is the only agency to undertake overhaul of ejection seats and role equipment of Su-30 MKI aircraft, both for IAF and Hindustan Aeronatic Limited (HAL). Earlier, the first Su-30 MKI overhauled by this Depot successfully took off on 24 Apr 2018 and has been flight tested for its airworthiness, before inducting it for operational tasks at a flying squadron.
Among those present on the occasion were a large number of senior Air Force dignitaries form Air Head Quarters New Delhi, Head Quarters Maintenance Command, Nagpur, South Western Air Command, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, Senior officers of HAL (Nasik Division), DRDO and DGAQA.
During the function, the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Maintenance Command and South Western Air Command applauded relentless efforts put in by personnel of Air Force Station Ojhar.
Air Cmde Samir V Borade Vishisht Seva Medal Air Officer Commanding, Air Force Station Ojhar, thanked all the air warriors and personnel of HAL (Nasik Division) for their active involvement and support in achieving this important milestone for the depot and Indian Air Force.
Borade said that with this capability, 11 Base Repair Depot had exhibited what the unit was capable of and was ever ready for meeting the new challenges.