New Products Developed by DPSUs Launched
Defence minister Rajnath Singh, on 13 August, launched four products each by Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) and Bharat Earth Movers Ltd (BEML), two by Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) and one each by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), Bharat Dynamics Ltd (BDL), Mazagon Dock Ltd (MDL), Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) and Goa Shipyard Ltd (GSL), as part of ‘Atma Nirbhar Bharat’ week celebrations. The products are mentioned below.
List of Products Launched
• Prototype of Nag Missile Carrier (NAMICA) developed by Ordnance Factory Medak in association with DRDL, Hyderabad.
• Fully indigenous 14.5 mm Anti Material Rifle being manufactured with the existing facilities at Ordnance Factory Trichy
• Upgraded Commander’s Thermal Imager Cum Day Sight for T90 Main Battle Tank by Rifle Factory Ishapore
• Prototype of 8.6×70 mm Sniper developed by Rifle Factory Ishapore
• 150 Ton payload capacity Dump Truck, one of the biggest Electric Mining Dump Trucks by BEML
• Super Giant Mining Excavator of 180 Ton Capacity by BEML
• GAUR, the BEML Medium Bullet Proof Vehicle by BEML
• Heliportable 100 HP Dozer by BEML
• 150th Do-228 aircraft by HAL
• Linear Variable Differential Transducer by BEL
• 1kW Transmitter Aerial Switching Rack by BEL
• The Konkurs Launchers Test Equipment by BDL
• Portable Pedestrian (Assault) Bridge by GRSE
• Gearbox for the Indian Coast Guard Offshore Patrol Vessels project by GSL
• Underwater Remote Operated Vehicle by MDL
Modernization of facilities at Opto-electronics Factory (OLF) Dehradun will serve the purpose of manufacturing of high-end opto-electronic products for T-90 tanks.
BEL has launched a 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 HAL.
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 and 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.
GRSE has enhanced the capability at its Raja Bagan Dockyard to meet the production requirement for the ongoing prestigious P17A project.
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New infrastructure has been created in the defence sector in the shape of foundation laying of Seeker Facility Centre (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 mine counter-measures vehicles (MCMV) 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 Centre and christened it as “Centre 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.
DPSUs sign Contracts and MoUs with Industry Partners
Department of Defence Production (DDP) has signed four contracts of Defence India Start-up Challenge (DISC) and three under Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX). iDEX aims to create an ecosystem which fosters innovation and encourages technology development in defence by engaging R&D institutes, academia, industries, startups and individual innovators. The iDEX framework was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in April 2018. iDEX is being implemented by Defence Innovation Organisation (DIO), a Section 8 company formed for this purpose, with Rs 50 crore support each from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), both of which are Defence Public Sector Units (DPSUs).
More than 700 startups and innovators responded to the three rounds of Defence India Startup Challenge (DISC), out of which over 55 startups/ individuals have been selected to receive innovation grants in 15 technological areas under DISC 1, 2 and 3, through the Prototype funding guidelines called “Support for Prototype and Research Kickstart” (SPARK), which entail provisioning of grants up to Rs 1.5 crore to the Startups on the basis of milestones through multiple tranches.
For 44 winners identified under DISC 1 & 2, till date, 28 contracts have been signed and first tranche/second tranche has been released to the winners for prototype development.
Under DISC 3, a total of 14 winners from three challenges (one each from Army, Navy and Air Force) were approved by the DIO Board on 3 Feb 2020. Out of the 14 winners, the first batch of four winners – three winners from Army challenge and one from Air Force challenge have been cleared for signing the SPARK Grant Contract. All the four contracts were signed on 14 August 2020.
MDL signed MoU for indigenous overhauling of main motor of SSK Class submarines with Medha Servo Drives Pvt Ltd. Presently overhaul of the main motor of SSK class submarines is carried out in Germany by a foreign firm. MDL is in the process of developing an Indian company, Medha Servo Drives Pvt Ltd, to undertake the same in India. This would be aligned with the aims and objectives of Atma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan, apart from savings in time and cost (which are as yet not quantifiable). Success of this effort could even lead to indigenisation of the main motor of submarines, which would be an extremely significant achievement. It was envisaged that MoU with the firm would be signed before 14 Aug 2020.
Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) signed a MoU with IIT Goa for Artificial Intelligence (AI), IoT-CFD and other technology-related fields. Key outcomes envisaged from the MoU with IIT-Goa are as follows:-
• Collaboration and undertaking joint research and development programs/projects in Naval ship building design, Smart Manufacturing, Industry 4.0, Artificial Intelligence, 3D printing and Composites.
• Share equipment, personnel and R&D facilities to facilitate research activities related to projects undertaken in the above mentioned technical areas.
• Evaluate and decide acquisition of new systems/equipment for Projects undertaken in the above mentioned technical areas.
• Facilitate internship of students of IIT-Goa with GSL.
• Technology up-gradation training programs for GSL personnel.
• To combine collective knowledge and technical expertise to develop new business opportunities in the above mentioned technical areas.
An MoU on development of UAVs was signed between BEML and IIT, Kanpur. BEML signed another MoU on development of AI products with NASSCOM, Bengaluru .
HAL issued Expression of Interest (EoI) for indigenization of 46 items for Russian project under Make-II having total value of Rs. 100 crores.
BEL Issued EOI/ RFP for Indigenisation of the following five items having total value of Rs. 31 crore:
• Brazing wire: Brazing wires are special alloys, presently being imported, are required for Vacuum Brazing Process.
• Motion Platform, 6 degrees of freedom & Payload 1000-2000 kg: Critical sub-assembly for Vehicular Simulators, presently imported.
• Dummy Weapons for Small Arm Simulators: Critical components for various Small Arms Simulators, not available indigenously.
• Single Board Computer (SBC) – Printed Circuit Board (PCB): Presently these PCBs are imported. SBC is used in current and future projects, hence indigenization is required, for cost savings & long-term maintenance.
• Design & Development of 62X Day Zoom Lens. There is a huge requirement for Army, MHA and Other agencies for long range day surveillance equipment. Day Zoom Lens is a part of this equipment being imported. Indigenization will achieve self-sustainability for manufacturing this item and avoids imported content.
BDL Issued EOI/ RFP for Indigenisation of 11 items under Make-II having total value of 15 crore. Components and sub-assemblies of naval products like, under-water connecters, contactors, Ring Laser Gyro, Pressure Transducer, Free Gyro, Heli Receiver, ATGM components & sub-assemblies like Amplifiers, Communication Unit, Transducer Sub-assemblies and Octol for War head of SAM missiles are ready for releasing RFP under Make-II. By indigenisation of the above saving of Rs. 15 crores will be achieved.
