New Delhi: The Ministry of Defence signed a contract for Modernisation of Air Field Infrastructure (MAFI) with Tata Power SED (TPSED) at a cost of nearly Rs 1,200 crore here in New Delhi on Friday. The MAFI contract includes 37 airfields of Indian Air Force(IAF), Indian Navy (IN) and Indian Coast Guard (ICG). The proposal has been approved by the Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. The Modernisation of Air Field Infrastructure phase-II programme is a follow-on programme based on MAFI Phase-I that included upgradation of 30 airfields of IAF. The airfields modernised under MAFI Phase-I have been of immense benefit to both military and civil users.

The project is a turnkey project that includes installation and commissioning of modern airfield equipment like Cat-II Instrument Landing System (ILS) and Cat II Air Field Lighting 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 upgradation of navigational aids and infrastructure under this project would enhance the operational capability by facilitating air operations of military and civil aircraft even in poor visibility and adverse weather condition while enhancing aerospace safety. 

The contract will provide impetus to the domestic industry in the prevailing situation of COVID-19 pandemic and moreover an industrial slowdown. The project will give a boost to over 250 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) which will be directly benefited from being involved in the 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.