Panaji, May 19 (IANS): Indigenisation will help downtime of Indian military aircraft, which are often grounded until the required foreign-made components are shipped to India, Vice Admiral Girish Luthra said on Friday.

Luthra was speaking at the 'Aviation Indigenisation Expo 2018' organised by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, in association with the Indian Navy and the Aeronautical Society of India in Goa.

"Indigenisation efforts to ensure that the 'right spare is available at the right time' must begin much earlier in the life-cycle of a platform after its induction.

"Not only will this approach reduce aircraft downtime as many aircrafts remain grounded until components from abroad are shipped back to India, but it will result in downward cost of repair and maintenance," Luthra said.

He added that participation by indigenous original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) would be a "win-win strategy" for both the user and the OEMs.

Describing maintenance services as the lifeline of the Indian naval aviation fleet, Luthra said that "the serviceability and reliability of aircraft are of paramount importance".

Maintenance of aircraft has become a mixed challenge, demanding seamless integration of new technology and also finding solution for obsolescence of legacy systems.

Luthra said that while the naval aircraft yards and station level workshops have been meeting the challenges, there is a need to encourage OEMs to set up facilities and carryout repair up to module level.