The Indian Air Force (IAF), in collaboration with Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. (IOCL), has created a “Fleet Card-Fuel on the Move” for its diverse fleet of vehicles in order to bring about a paradigm shift in the logistics management of fuel in its inventory.
IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal V.R. Chaudhari unveiled the “Fleet Card” at Headquarters Western Air Command on Monday.
The IAF said,
“With the availability of the Fleet Card, the convoy will be able to fill up at any IOCL fuel station, enhancing the speed of movement and decreasing the lead time for preparedness at operational areas across the country.”
“This is in keeping with the Shekatkar Committee’s recommendations to improve the armed forces’ teeth-to-tail ratio,” the official said. According to the official, the IAF obtains fuel from a variety of sources and stores and distributes it around the air force installations.
As a result, any road mobility is limited because convoys must stop at air force stations for refuelling. The Fleet Cards would allow the IAF to use the enormous network of retail fuel distributors across the country to replenish its vehicles while on the road, according to the official.
This move also has several indirect effects towards enhancing the combat potential and efficient logistic management within the IAF, officials said. Fuel retailers, especially in far-flung areas where there is an IAF presence, are likely to greatly benefit from the move, which will further help the local economies, another official said.
Published by – Kiruthiga K
Edited by – Kritika Kashyap
