Bhubaneswar: An Odisha-based startup, IG Defence and Aerospace, has developed an advanced tracking tool that will be used by Indian Air Force (IAF) to enhance security and efficiency at airbases. IAF has signed a contract with the company to deploy its bluetooth low energy (BLE) tool tracking system. Officials sources said the indigenous technology streamlines maintenance operations and strengthens inventory management across IAF’s 60 airbases.
Founder of IG Aerospace and Defence, Bodhisattwa Sanghapriya, said their tracking system integrates hardware and software, with each tool and equipment embedded with a microchip. “Each tool, equipment and critical part of the aircraft in the airbase will have a microchip connected with BLE tool tracking system. If a material is stolen by somebody or taken by mistake in an aircraft, the system will red flag it with an alarm in real-time and send the location to the security officer concerned,” he added.
He said keeping track of all tools and equipment manually is not easy. “But our system will make it easy. Without permission, nobody can take a tool or bring a tool to the airbase. An aircraft has thousands of tools, and the system will keep track of everything. We have not used internet connectivity in the system to keep an airbase safe from any cyberattack,” he added.
The tracking system will be piloted at Gwalior airbase before its planned expansion to other IAF and Army airbases. A key benefit of the technology is its role in preventing damage by foreign object debris (FOD), which is a major safety concern. “Undetected tools or bolts on runways can cause tyre bursts and structural damage during take-off or landing. With automated alerts, the system improves runway safety. It also features an extended charging cycle of six-eight months, reducing maintenance efforts,” said Sanghapriya.
The start-up developed the system after winning the ‘iDEX Challenge’, part of the defence ministry’s initiative to support indigenous defence startups. The iDEX programme provides ‘Support for Prototype and Research Kickstart’ (SPARK) grants to startups and MSMEs through Defence India Startup Challenges (DISC), providing funding up to Rs 1.5 crore for innovative projects.
Bhubaneswar: An Odisha-based startup, IG Defence and Aerospace, has developed an advanced tracking tool that will be used by Indian Air Force (IAF) to enhance security and efficiency at airbases. IAF has signed a contract with the company to deploy its bluetooth low energy (BLE) tool tracking system. Officials sources said the indigenous technology streamlines maintenance operations and strengthens inventory management across IAF’s 60 airbases.
Founder of IG Defence and Aerospace, Bodhisattwa Sanghapriya, said their tracking system integrates hardware and software, with each tool and equipment embedded with a microchip. “Each tool, equipment and critical part of the aircraft in the airbase will have a microchip connected with BLE tool tracking system. If a material is stolen by somebody or taken by mistake in an aircraft, the system will red flag it with an alarm in real-time and send the location to the security officer concerned,” he added.
He said keeping track of all tools and equipment manually is not easy. “But our system will make it easy. Without permission, nobody can take a tool or bring a tool to the airbase. An aircraft has thousands of tools, and the system will keep track of everything. We have not used internet connectivity in the system to keep an airbase safe from any cyberattack,” he added.
The tracking system will be piloted at Gwalior airbase before its planned expansion to other IAF and Army airbases. A key benefit of the technology is its role in preventing damage by foreign object debris (FOD), which is a major safety concern. “Undetected tools or bolts on runways can cause tyre bursts and structural damage during take-off or landing. With automated alerts, the system improves runway safety. It also features an extended charging cycle of six-eight months, reducing maintenance efforts,” said Sanghapriya.
The start-up developed the system after winning the ‘iDEX Challenge’, part of the defence ministry’s initiative to support indigenous defence startups. The iDEX programme provides ‘Support for Prototype and Research Kickstart’ (SPARK) grants to startups and MSMEs through Defence India Startup Challenges (DISC), providing funding up to Rs 1.5 crore for innovative projects.