The Indian Air Force (IAF) announced on Wednesday the acquisition of its first indigenously designed and developed Crash Fire Tender (CFT), marking a significant milestone in the country’s defense manufacturing capabilities.
Manufactured by an Indian MSME firm based in Noida, the CFT delivery comes under a contract valued at Rs 291 crore. Despite challenges posed by disruptions in the global supply chain, the Indian manufacturer ensured the timely delivery of the CFT within 14 months of contract signing, as highlighted by the IAF’s social media post.
The IAF’s commitment to supporting indigenous defense manufacturing is underscored by its ongoing efforts to procure domestically produced items to fulfill operational needs. This aligns with the government’s Make in India initiative, which prioritizes indigenous production across various sectors, including defense.
In line with this strategy, the IAF has placed orders for numerous indigenous fighter aircraft, such as the Tejas, and is collaborating with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) to develop advanced fifth-generation combat aircraft to meet future operational requirements.
Notably, on March 28, the Tejas Mk1A Aircraft series witnessed a significant milestone as the first Aircraft LA5033 took off successfully from HAL’s Bengaluru facility, completing an 18-minute sortie, signaling progress in India’s indigenous aircraft development program.
