Tamil Nadu, Jul 3 (KNN) In a significant move to bolster India's defence capabilities, the Union Ministry of Defence (MoD) has inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to establish three cutting-edge testing facilities in Tamil Nadu. This development is part of the Tamil Nadu defence industrial corridor initiative.

The MoU, exchanged between senior MoD officials and the Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO) in New Delhi, outlines plans for specialised testing facilities in Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), Electronic Warfare (EW), and Electro Optics (EO) domains.

This initiative falls under the Defence Testing Infrastructure Scheme (DTIS), launched in 2020 to promote indigenous defence production and reduce reliance on imported military equipment.

The scheme aims to set up a total of seven testing facilities across two states—four in Tamil Nadu and three in Uttar Pradesh—with a substantial outlay of Rs 400 crore.

The DTIS operates on a unique funding model, with the government providing up to 75 per cent of the funding as grant-in-aid. The remaining 25% is to be contributed by special purpose vehicles (SPVs) comprising Indian private entities and state or union governments.

For the UAS testing facility, Keltron, a Kerala government undertaking, will lead the SPV, collaborating with private sector companies. Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and India Optel Limited (IOL) will spearhead the EW and EO testing facilities, respectively.

Upon completion, these state-of-the-art facilities will offer advanced testing equipment and services to both government and private industry players, potentially boosting India's defence manufacturing landscape.

This move underscores the government's commitment to strengthening the domestic defence industry and achieving self-reliance in military technology.

(KNN Bureau)