Rajnath Singh unveils modernized facilities of Defence PSUs, OFB

• Ministry of Defence observing 'Atma Nirbhar Bharat Week Celebrations'

• Monday Rajnath Singh announced modernisation and up-gradation of facilities for of Defence PSUs and OFB

• "Self-reliance in Defence is a tall task which needs wholehearted involvement of all to be fruitful," said Rajnath Singh

New Delhi: (Defence News) Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday launched the initiatives of a number of modernisation and up-gradation of facilities as also new infrastructure creation by Defence PSUs and OFB, through a digital link. Ministry of Defence is observing 'Atma Nirbhar Bharat Week Celebrations' and the announcement is a part of the same. During the launch, Rajnath Singh said "The ban on imports of 101 items is a big step towards an Atma Nirbhar Bharat. This list of negative items contains not only small items but weapon systems of high and critical technology. More such items will be added to this list shortly which will save crores of rupees in imports." MoS Defence Shripad Y Naik, Defence Secretary Dr Ajay Kumar (IAS), Secretary Defence Production Raj Kumar (IAS), Vice Admiral Harikumar CISC, and other senior officers from DDP and CMDs and Chairmen of DPSUs and OFB participated in the event through video conference links.

Under upgradation of facilities, Pinaka Rocket Complex at Ordnance Factory Chanda has launched Upgradation of facilities to meet the enhanced requirement of Pinaka and other rockets as well as the Assembly and testing facility for SRCG at OFB, Trichy all of which are critical requirements towards defence preparedness. Modernization of facilities at OLF Dehradun will serve the purpose of manufacturing of high-end Optoelectronic products for T-90 Tanks.

Also Read: Here is the list of 101 defence items banned for import by MoD

BEL has launched fully indigenised Maareech Integration facility for manufacturing, integration and testing of Anti Torpedo Defence System Maareech which has been designed by DRDO. HAL has handed over the 500th AL-31FP overhauled engine to the IAF which are mounted on its most lethal frontline fighter aircraft Su-30MKI. It has been done by the Koraput Division of HAK. BEML has set up Industrial Design Centre at Bengaluru as part of its new infrastructure creation. The Centre is first of its kind in India, focusing on implementing factors of Industrial Design & Human Factors as a part of developmental strategies for setting the global benchmarking in Industrial Design and Ergonomics in Products. It is proposed to develop this facility further as a national facility and would be offered to the industry in the next stage.

Under modernisation of facilities, GRSE has enhanced the capability at its Raja Bagan Dockyard to meet the production requirement for the ongoing prestigious P17A project. New infrastructure has been created in the shape of foundation laying of Seeker Facility Center (SFC) at BDL, a new modular facility for manufacturing of Missile System (RF Seeker) that will reduce import dependence for seekers and Foundation Laying for Warheads Production Facility at BDL for manufacturing and testing of indigenously developed warheads required for Konkurs-M, Invar, Akash, Astra missiles etc. The facility being modular will cater to all futuristic missile warheads with incremental modifications.

A new state of art Steel Preparation Shop (SPS) at GSL has been inaugurated today that will enable indigenous construction of high technology Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP) hull MCMVs along with other supporting infrastructure for the country. MIDHANI under its Corporate Social Responsibility & Sustainable Development Policy has set up a state-of-the-art Skill Development Center and christened it as "Center of Excellence – Special Materials". This facility will primarily focus on Promoting applied research for the development of Special. Materials used in aerospace, defence, nuclear, space and other strategic areas.

"These upgradation and modernisation/new set-ups will give tremendous benefit in terms of reducing dependency on foreign resources for production as well as further maintenance, upgradation and lifetime support, all through safe and sound, indigenous hands," Singh said unveiling the facilities by pressing a remote button. "The spirit demonstrated by the DPSUs and OFB  will usher the nation in a quantum jump to a resilient, Atma Nirbhar economy," the minister said praising DPSUs and OFB.

"We will take more steps towards, Indigenisation, investment in defence infrastructure and expansion in defence manufacturing capability. These steps will create big opportunities for the Indian defence industry" said Singh. "Defence industry has always been the forerunner of cutting-edge technologies world across and hence self-reliance in Defence is a tall task which needs wholehearted involvement of all to be fruitful. The defence industries have been the force behind the Armed Forces. Today we are proud of our Defence PSUs and OFB for their continued support and sustained efforts towards this," he added.

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