IIT Kanpur and the Indian Air Force (IAF) have teamed up to develop robust technologies in the field of aerospace technology, both academically and through research. A memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Indian Air Force and the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur was signed on September 8, 2021, at the Air Force Headquarters in New Delhi to mark the start of the partnership. The Memorandum of Understanding was signed to create the Air Vice Marshal Harjinder Singh, VSM Class I MBE, Chair of Excellence and Research Scholar Program (RSP) for Indian Air Force Officers. The event was attended by Air Marshal Vibhas Pande AVSM VSM, Air Officer-in-Charge Maintenance (AOM) and Prof. Abhay Karandikar, Director IIT Kanpur, as well as Air Vice Marshal Rajeev Sharma, Assistant Chief of Air Staff Education and Head of the IAF's Education Branch, and Prof. Jayant Kumar Singh, Dean Resources and Alumni, IIT Kanpur. The rationale behind the partnership is to establish long term relationships for academic and research-based interactions and interchange of technical knowledge to foster knowledge development and promote breakthrough innovations in the domain of aerospace technology. This significant collaboration between IIT Kanpur and the Indian Air Force will pave the way for a self-sufficient India by establishing new fronts and strengthening the Atma Nirbhar Bharat Mission. The Air Vice Marshal Harjinder Singh Chair of Excellence will promote aerospace technologies, aircraft structural integrity, aircraft health monitoring, and other allied subjects in the fields of aeronautics and aviation through teaching, research, and technology development. It will make it easier for Indian Air Force personnel to develop training programmes that will serve as platforms for the dissemination of knowledge and novel ideas for developing new technologies. Through interaction with IIT Kanpur faculty members, it will be possible to demonstrate new technology interventions and raise awareness among IAF officers about how to address their problems. Image Source Also read: Centre nods Rs 11,000 cr air surveillance project of DRDO for IAF