New Delhi: The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation Limited to set up three state-of-the-art testing facilities in Chennai, a PIB press release stated.
The testing facilities were proposed to be set up under the Defence Testing Infrastructure Scheme (DTIS), which was launched by the government in May 2020 to promote indigenous development of defence technologies and reduce military equipment imports. The scheme is also expected to enhance self-reliance in the defence and aerospace sectors.
The government is expected to provide 75 per cent of the funding for the project through a grant-in-aid. The remaining amount will have to be contributed by the private sector and concerned state and central governments.
The lead SPV member of the unmanned aerial system testing facility is Keltron, a government of Kerala undertaking. The consortium members of the electronic warfare and electro optics testing facilities are Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and India Optel Limited (IOL).
The testing facilities are expected to provide advanced testing equipment and services to both the government and the private industry.