Atmanirbharata, today is neither merely import substitution nor isolationist autarky. Atmanirbharata is about resilience, leveraging internal strengths and a sense of national mission. It is as much about decentralized localism as it is about active participation in global supply chains.

The Ordnance Factories have been committed to indigenisation since their inception. The Director of Ordnance Factories in British India was tasked with: “Keeping in touch with private manufacture in India, in order to maximise the use of local produce so as to avoid unnecessary import”.

This entrenched tradition of indigenization coupled with a strong R&D base has led to an impressive overall indigenous content of 90% in the products of the Ordnance Factories and 97% in ammunition items.

The strong R&D network of the Ordnance Factories has led to 25% of the revenues being sourced from products of in-house R&D even though the mandate for R&D was given in 2006. It is against this background that the impressive achievements of the Ordnance Factories during the recently concluded “Atmanirbhar Week” have to be appreciated.

New facilities inaugurated:

• Ultra Clean Facility for Production of Thermal Imaging Sights at the Opto Electronic Factory, Dehradun. The facility provides ISO-6: class 1000 and ISO class 10000 clear environment facility with controlled environment for production of high end Thermal Imaging Systems for T-90 tanks and the Stabilized Remote Control Gun.
• A State of the Art Facility for Assembling and Testing the Stabilized Remote Controlled Gun (SCRG) at Ordnance Factory Tiruchirapalli for the indigenous production of the 12.7 mm SCRG for the Indian Navy and the Coast Guard.
• Automatic Explosive Filling and Assembly Plant for 30mm BMP-II Ammunition at Ordnance Factory Khamaria (OFK). Conceived and specifications developed by the OFK and designed and executed by M/S Cybernatik Technologies of Pune. It is an example of a combination of domain expertise of Ordnance Factories with private entrepreneurship to develop an indigenous, state–of–the-art production facility. The plant uses ATEX certified components and ESD wrist bands, safety, consistency, quality and productivity through automatic control of process parameters. Autogauging and auto rejection eliminates the possibility of human error. The plant also provides traceability at the operator, supervisor and manager level for various permissions and overrides.
• Development of Industry 4.0 based system with in house resources by Ordnance Factory Ambajhari (OFAJ). An indigenous, in-house system using digital technologies that comprise Industry 4.0 to monitor machine parameters such as hydraulic oil pressure, temperature, current, spindle vibration, cooling water flow and humidity. In addition, the system also monitors the number of jobs produced, average cycle time and overall machine availability. A spare management module is also integrated for online management of spares in terms of availability and location. The total expenditure on the system is less than Rs 5,00,000/- for twenty machines as against Rs 6.5 lakhs per machine quoted by foreign companies who are leaders in this field.
• Indigenous Automated Pinaka Rocket Assembly Line by the Ordnance Factory Chandrapur. A fully automated facility with in-built safety features and advanced control systems to monitor quality and productivity, conceptualized and developed indigenously by OF Chanda and M/S Godrej & Boyce, Mumbai.

New Products launched

• NAMICA or a missile launcher on a BMP-2 platform which is a joint venture between The Ordnance factory Medak (OFMK) and DRDL (Hyderabad). NAMICA combines the mobility and manoeuvrability of the BMP-2 with enhanced firepower through missile integration. The system has an indigenously developed fire control system (FCS) with missile electronics. The DRDOs 3rd generation fire and forget anti-tank missile ‘NAG’ which has a range of 4 KM and can be loaded with any type of warhead. The NAMICA can fire six missiles successively with a gap of 20 seconds between each firing.
• Upgradation of Commander’s Thermal Imager (CTI) cum Day Sight with Eye Safe LRF for tank (T-90) CTI-90. Developed by the Opto Electronics Factory (OLF), Dehradun in association with the IRDE, it replaced the existing system based on Image Converting (IC) tube technology with the latest thermal imaging technology and a Laser Range Finder (LRF). This completely indigenous system not only increases the detection range at night by almost a factor of 8, but also includes from recognition and identification capability at night which were absent in the previous version. Being a passive system it is also less prone to detection by the enemy.
• Commander’s Thermal Imager cum Day Sight (CTI)-MK-II for Tank T-72. Developed in association with IRDE this completely indigenously designed system based on thermal imaging technology provides an increased detection range at night along with recognition and identification capability. An indent for supply has also been placed on the factory.
• Upgradation of CRT Monitor to LCD Monitor in Sight TI ESSA of Tank T-90. OLF, Dehradun in association with M/s Biotech has developed an indigenous solution to replace the old sights based on Cathode Ray tubes with LCD monitors thereby providing more space, increased brightness, sharper images, longer operational life, high resistance to external impact and an easy availability of spares. The first lot of the indigenously developed LCD monitor was handed over to the user on the 14 Aug 2020.
• Day Sight Telescope for the 7.62 x 51 mm Assault Rifles. Developed by the Ordnance Factory Dehradun, it is an entirely indigenous product which is compact (220 mm), light weight (550 gm) with a range of 600m and 4X magnification.
• Fuel Injection Pump for BMP-II. Developed by the Engine Factory Avadi, the indigenously developed fuel injection pump for the engine of the infantry combat vehicle SARATH has been successfully tested on test stand and engine for performance and has also successfully undergone field trials and cross country running trials.
• Indigenously Developed Paint for Tank T-90. The Heavy Vehicles Factory in association with the DRDO lab at Jodhpur have developed an indigenous alternative to the paint with enhanced stealth feature for the T-90 Tank thereby obviating continuous import and at a tenth of the cost. The paint has been cleared for use and the DRDO has shared the technology with two private sector firms.
• Bullet Resistant Jacket. The Clothing Factory Avadi handed over the indigenously developed first lot of the Bullet Resistant Jacket to the Additional D.G. of the Tamil Nadu Police on the 11 Aug. The jacket conforms to international standards and is ergonomically designed to match body contours. It offers complete protection in the front, at the back, on the sides, the shoulder and the collar from handguns and pistols. With additional inserts the jacket can provide protection against high energy rounds from SLR, INSAS and the AK-47 assault rifle at a distance of ten meters.
• Extreme Cold Weather Clothing System (ECWCS). A three layered ECWCS has been developed by the Ordnance Clothing Factory Shahjahanpur (OCFS) for providing protection at extremely low temperatures of -500 C and wind velocity of 40 km/hr. It has a better Thermal Insulation Value than that specified in the QR prescribed by the Indian Army. OCFS has partnered with ITBP during the development stage and the system has been found to be satisfactory.
• 14.5 mm Anti Material Rifle. Hitherto imported from South Africa, this single shot, bolt action weapon with a detachable three round magazine has been indigenously developed by the Ordnance Factory Tieuchinaipalli. The rifle has a range of 1800m for 14.5 mm and 1300m for 20 mm calibre. It is light weight and can be quickly disassembled and carried in two-man portable packs. Capable of being used in the anti-material role for destroying enemy bunkers, light armoured vehicles, radar systems and other strategic and tactical targets. In a limited tender enquiry of the Army issued in July 2019, the OFB’s bid emerged as the single technically acceptable offer. Orders have been received from CAPFs and SPOs.
• 40 x 46 mm UBGL for AK-47 and Trichy Assault Rifle (TAR). Developed by the Ordnance Factory Tiruchirapalli is single shot with a breech loaded launcher. It is chamber loaded and has a flat or curved trajectory fire capability.
• 8.6 x 70 mm Sniper Rifle. Developed by Rifle Factory Ishapore using advanced design techniques and light materials the rifle is expected to achieve commercial production next year.
• 7.62 x 51 Sniper Rifle. Developed by the Rifle Factory Ishapore with an accuracy of IMoA and 800 m, it is at par with world class sniper rifle and is currently being procured by the paramilitary forces.
• 7.62 x 51 mm Ishapore Assault Rifle. Developed in a record time, the rifle has been evaluated by a Board of Officers of the MHA and found to be satisfactory.
• The SRGM Ordnance. Developed by the Field Gun Factory and handed over to the controller of Naval Armament (OF) Khamaria, thereby obviating the need to transport the ammunition to Balasore for inspection. The SRGM is a 76 mm gun manufactured by M/s OTO Melara of Italy. The ordnance was developed and manufactured in the absence of any documents or specifications by application of innovative design techniques of simulation and analysis and interpretation of performance data by in-house experts.
• Electronic Point Detonation Fuze for 155 mm Artillery Ammunition by the Machine Tool Prototype Factory (MTPF) through an In-House R&D Project. The fuze conforms to MIL-STD-1316D and STANAG 4187 and apart from the reserve battery and the micro electric detonator (MED) has been developed entirely in house. The fuze is safe for transportation, handling and storage and meets the criteria specified in MIL-STD-331.
• The 40mm UBGL ammunition developed by the Ammunition Factory Khadki as an in-house R&D project and components have been sourced from Indian Companies. Practice, HEAP, HEDP and RP variants have been developed. The first consignment of 40mm (UBGL) ammunition was handed over to the BSF on the 11 Aug.
• Shell 155mm Red Phosphorous. Developed by the Ordnance Factory Dehu Road (OFDR) as an indigenous alternative to the ammunition being currently imported from South Africa. The ammunition has been cleared GM’s trials and DGQA evaluation and has been submitted for user trials.
• Cartridge Signal Flare 26mm (Red/Green/Yellow/White). Developed by OFDR for the Indian Air Force in association with ARDE. One lot of cartridge Red/Green was handed over to the representative of the Indian Air Force on 11/08/2020.
• Indian Influence Mine (Adrushy) MK –II. An anti-tank mine designed and developed by the ARDE Pune and manufactured by the Ordnance Factory Chandrapur (OFCH). The mine functions on the principle of detecting magnetic signatures of vehicles and is independent of physical contact. It has all weather and terrain resistance, is difficult to breach, has a full width attack and tank travel dissemination. The first batch of the mine was dispatched to the Indian Army on 11 Aug 2020.