New Delhi :  With the Indian Air Force (IAF) all set to add new assets worth several crores of rupees in the coming years, officers and airmen were Monday asked to update themselves with emerging technologies for an operationally ready force.

This message was conveyed by the IAF s maintenance chief, Air Marshal Jagadish Chandra, to the officers and men of the IAF maintenance command while inaugurating its commanders conference in Nagpur.

"Assets worth several thousand crore rupees would be purchased over the next few years which include aircraft, radars, missile systems and various other platforms.

With these new inductions, our role would also undergo changes. We should make full use of this opportunity and reorient ourselves with changing times," said Chandra, the air officer commanding-in-chief of Nagpur-based IAF maintenance Command, according to a statement.

The IAF is in the process of getting 10 US-made C17 heavy-lift transport planes, apart from 75 Swiss Pilatus basic trainer aircraft in the next few years. It is also in the process of negotiating a deal with French Dassault for 126 Rafale planes. Expressing satisfaction over the performance of the maintenance command s units such as the base repair depots all over the country, Chandra exhorted the commanders for modernisation of production means and sustenance of quality norms.

He reiterated that the IAF was going through a process of transformation and called upon the commanders to gear up for the change and contribute effectively to the process of modernisation. "The IAF field units who finally launch various offensive and defensive missions are our customers .

We should always be customer-oriented and make our repair support and supply system a game changer in the national security matrix," he added During the two-day conference, the commanders of various formations under the IAF maintenance command would make presentations on their activities and outlook for the next six months and the targets achieved so far.

The conference is being attended by Maintenance Command Senior Maintenance Staff Officer Air Marshal Sri Ram, Air Officer Engineering Services Air Vice Marshal D.K. Pande, Senior Air and Admin.

Staff Officer Air Vice Marshal J.S. Kler. The meet would be carrying out the reviews of the activities of various formations under the maintenance command. It is also being attended by commanders of smaller field units and principal staff officers of the maintenance command.