Defense ministry signs 3 MoUs to set up 3 testing facilities in Chennai
- In Reports
- 12:30 PM, Jul 03, 2024
- Myind Staff
On Tuesday, the Ministry of Defense signed an MoU to establish three state-of-the-art testing facilities for the Tamil Nadu Defense Industrial Corridor in Chennai. These facilities will specialise in unmanned aerial systems electronic warfare, and electro-optics. The memorandum of understanding (MoU), formed under the Defense Testing Infrastructure Scheme (DTIS), was exchanged between senior ministry officials and Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation Limited. According to the ministry’s statement, the exchange took place in New Delhi in the presence of Defense Secretary Giridhar Aramane.
In May 2020, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh launched the DTIS with a budget of Rs.400 Crore to set up state-of-the-art testing facilities in collaboration with private industry and central or state government. The goal is to promote indigenous defense production, reducing military equipment imports and enhancing self-reliance, the statement said.
To encourage the defense and aerospace sectors within the Defense Industrial Corridors, seven testing facilities were approved -- four in Tamil Nadu and three in Uttar Pradesh. The ministry also said that the MoU for three such facilities in Tamil Nadu has been signed.
The DTIS gives up to 75 percent of government funding as a grant-in-aid, with the remaining 25 percent provided by special purpose vehicles (SPVs) including Indian private entities and state or central government bodies.
For the unmanned aerial system (UAS) testing facility, Keltron, an enterprise owned by the Kerala government, is the lead SPV member, with several private sector companies as part of the consortium. Bharat Electronics Limited leads the SPV for the electronic warfare testing facility, while India Optel Limited is the lead for the electro-optics testing facility.
Upon completion of the project, these facilities will offer advanced testing equipment and services to both government and private industry, thereby enhancing 'aatmanirbharta' in the defense sector, the statement added.
Image source: PTI
Comments