New Delhi, July 28: In a major step towards strengthening India’s indigenous defence capabilities, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) today to establish a state-of-the-art testing facility in the Mechanical & Material domain within the Tamil Nadu Defence Industrial Corridor at Tiruchirappalli. The project will be implemented under the Defence Testing Infrastructure Scheme (DTIS), which was launched by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to enhance domestic defence production and reduce reliance on imports.
The MoU was exchanged in New Delhi between senior officials of the MoD and the Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation Limited (TIDCO) in the presence of Sanjeev Kumar, Secretary (Defence Production), Ministry of Defence.
Advanced Testing for a Self-Reliant Defence Ecosystem
The proposed facility will offer cutting-edge testing equipment and services for both government and private defence manufacturers, focusing on mechanical strength, materials integrity, and component validation—critical requirements for modern military platforms.
The initiative is being funded under DTIS, which offers up to 75% government funding as Grant-in-Aid, while the remaining 25% will be contributed by a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) formed by a consortium of public and private stakeholders.
The SPV for the Tiruchirappalli facility will be led by Micro Labs, a private sector entity, and will include:
- Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation Limited (TIDCO)
- Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML)
- Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)
- Vaidheswaran Industries
Strategic Impact and Regional Development
With an outlay of ₹400 crore, the Defence Testing Infrastructure Scheme was conceived to develop seven testing facilities, including four in Tamil Nadu and three in Uttar Pradesh, to support the growing defence and aerospace manufacturing sectors within the two Defence Industrial Corridors (DICs).
The Ministry stated that the Tiruchirappalli testing facility will serve as a force multiplier for manufacturers by offering localized, high-quality testing services—reducing time, cost, and dependency on foreign test labs. This will directly contribute to India’s goal of achieving Aatmanirbharta (self-reliance) in defence production.
By integrating private players with public sector undertakings and state agencies, the DTIS model is expected to drive innovation, attract investments, and build a robust supply chain for defence and aerospace products.
