NEW DELHI, Oct 7: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has approved a revised Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the use of proof ranges, field firing ranges and testing facilities under the Ministry of Defence by Indian defence companies, officials said on Wednesday.
The revised framework is aimed at making access to these facilities simpler, transparent and more industry-friendly, the Ministry of Defence said in a statement.
It provides a streamlined process for allotment and utilisation of proof ranges, field firing ranges and laboratory testing facilities available with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), government quality assurance agencies and the three armed services.
The new SOP also specifies the procedure for calculating and paying proof and testing charges wherever applicable. The ministry said this would reduce documentation requirements and simplify the process for defence manufacturers and developers.
Proof and testing charges have been waived for iDEX, TDF, Make and other developmental projects sponsored by the Ministry of Defence. The move is intended to encourage indigenous defence production and support the government’s push for self-reliance in the sector.
The revised guidelines have also replaced the arbitration provision in the earlier SOP with a simpler conciliation agreement clause. According to the ministry, the change will help resolve issues faced by domestic defence companies more quickly and improve ease of doing business.
Under the new arrangement, a three-day slot every quarter will be reserved at proof ranges for developmental projects sponsored by the government, including those under iDEX, TDF and Make initiatives.
The reserved slots will also cover other Ministry of Defence developmental programmes and projects undertaken independently by the indigenous defence industry.
The revised SOP includes prescribed formats and detailed procedures for accessing and using the facilities. It also incorporates various government measures intended to promote indigenisation, innovation and defence exports.
The ministry said the framework will strengthen proof and testing support for developmental work carried out by Indian defence companies and contribute to the country’s efforts to build a stronger domestic defence manufacturing ecosystem.