The Air Force Technical College (AFTC) is a training institution of the Indian Air Force (IAF) located at Jalahalli in Bengaluru, Karnataka. It is the principal centre for the technical training of officers of the IAF, providing instruction in aeronautical engineering disciplines that support the operation and maintenance of military aircraft, weapons systems and ground support equipment.
| Name | Air Force Technical College |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | AFTC |
| Type | Military training institution |
| Affiliation | Indian Air Force, Ministry of Defence, Government of India |
| Location | Jalahalli, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India |
| Command | Training Command, IAF |
The Indian Air Force operates a network of category-specific training establishments under its Training Command, which is headquartered in Bengaluru. AFTC forms part of this network and concentrates on the post-commissioning technical training of officers in the engineering branches of the IAF, namely the Aeronautical Engineering (Mechanical) and Aeronautical Engineering (Electronics) streams.
Officers of the technical branches typically report to AFTC after their initial commissioning training at the Air Force Academy, Dundigal. At AFTC, they undergo specialised courses covering aircraft systems, propulsion, avionics, radar and communication systems, armament, and the principles of maintenance management associated with frontline IAF platforms.
In addition to junior commissioned officers' courses, AFTC conducts advanced and mid-career courses for serving engineering officers, equipping them for higher technical and command appointments. Foreign trainees from friendly air forces also attend selected courses as part of India's defence cooperation programmes.
The college is situated in the Jalahalli area of north-western Bengaluru, a locality with a long association with Indian aviation and electronics. Jalahalli hosts several defence and public-sector establishments, including units of Bharat Electronics Limited and other IAF formations, which provide a supportive technical environment for the college's activities.
AFTC is regarded as one of the key institutions through which the Indian Air Force sustains the engineering expertise required to operate a diverse fleet of fighters, transports, helicopters and missile systems. By centralising advanced technical instruction, the college contributes to standardisation of maintenance practices and the development of officers who go on to serve in base repair depots, squadrons and headquarters appointments.