IAF enters into new era of training with e-project

Bengaluru, March 11: The Indian Air Force (IAF) on Friday launched an ambitious ‘e-Training Project' on a pilot basis at the Electrical and Instrument Training Institute, Air Force Station Jalahalli in Bengaluru. The IAF said the project under the Training Command, is the first of its kind ever to be launched by Indian armed forces.

The Rs 2.2-crore project was dedicated to the IAF by Air Marshal S R K Nair, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Training Command.

Speaking on the occasion Air Marshal Nair said the project is in line with the ‘Digital India' mission of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Giant leap in training: Air Marshal Nair

"It's a giant leap in the concept of training in the IAF and a major shift from IAF's conventional mode of training. Any fighter force depends on human resources and innovative approach in teaching is the key," Air Marshal Nair said.

He said the trainees would now get a chance to network among themselves using a tablet.

"This is a huge shift from the chalk and board method of training and we are happy to have adopted the latest advancements in the field of Information and Communications Technology with the launch of this pilot project. The training architecture can impact the future of IAF," he said.

IAF plans to implement the pilot projects in two phases consisting of six months each. In the first batch 420 trainees are set to benefit from the new training process.

Trainees to have access to tablets

A trainee will now have access to tablets loaded with information flowing from a secured central server. Trainees and instructors can now network even during off-duty hours.

Officials say once the project is fully commissioned, about 9000 plus ab-initio trainees undergoing training at various institutes across IAF facilities in India could benefit from it.

To a specific query from OneIndia, whether the e-training would aid IAF's NCW (Network-Centric Warfare) activities, Air Marshal Nair said: "Right now, it might not aid NCW activities, but in future certainly. Now the focus is to equip our trainees so that they get exposure to the C-130Js and the Rafales," Air Marshal Nair said.

Air Marshal Nair, commissioned in the transport stream of the IAF in June 1980, has a rich and varied flying experience of over 7000 hours in various transport and trainer aircraft.

Parrikar launches interactive portal

Meanwhile in Delhi, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Friday launched an interactive web portal of Kendriya Sainik Board (KSB) Secretariat, under the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare (ESW).

According to Ministry of Defence officials, the interactive portal facilitates ex-Servicemen and their dependents to submit online applications under various welfare schemes.

"At present, it contains website and workflow software for online submission of Prime Minister Scholarship Scheme for the sons and wards of ex-Servicemen. The portal, developed by National Informatics Centre (at a cost of Rs 58.93 lakh), will later contain workflow software for all the schemes of the Secretariat," says an official.

OneIndia News