The Minister of State for Defence Production & Supplies, Mr Harin Pathak has urged the Ordnance Factory Board to move ahead with innovative approaches in order to excel in armament production. While inaugurating the Conference of General Managers of Ordnance Factories, the Minister said that the primary goal of Ordnance Factories should remain focussed on supporting the defence of the country and they should also aim at expanding their customer and product base both vertically and horizontally to emerge as a viable global industrial organisation.

Mr Pathak said that electronic warfare, laser guided bombs, smart ammunition etc are replacing conventional weapon systems. It is, therefore, necessary for Ordnance Factories to exploit the latest technologies available in the world. Towards this goal, the Ordnance Factories need to focus attention on in-house research and development and collaboration with industrial houses as well as research and academic institutions in the country and abroad, the Minister opined.

Earlier, Secretary, Defence Production & Supplies, Mr Subir Dutta put emphasis on the need for increase in exports by the Ordnance Factory Board. The present level of exports of Rs 10 crore is not at all sufficient to effect the economies of scale. He urged the General Managers to increase the export level to Rs 1000 crore in the next three to four years. For this, upgradation of technology, improvement in quality, exploration of the markets and new range of products are essential, he added.

The two-day conference deliberated on ‘Perspective Plans of Ordnance Factories’. This theme coverd topics such as technology upgradation and modernisation of production facilities, human resource planning and in-house R&D activities. The conference assumed special significance as it was held during the bi-centenary year of the organisation. It may be recalled that the first Ordnance Factory, now known as ‘Gun and Shell Factory (GSF)’, was set up in 1801 at Cossipore near Kolkata.

Indian Ordnance Factory (IOF) Organisation is the largest departmentally run industrial undertaking. In all, there are thirtynine Ordnance Factories and the fortieth one is in the offing at the historic site of Nalanda in Bihar. This factory is being set up for the manufacture of futuristic bi-modular propellant charges required for heavy calibre ammunition.