Bharat Dynamics setting up manufacturing complex for missile systems
28 Aug 2017
Bharat Dynamics Ltd (BDL) is setting up a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility for the production and testing of a new range of medium range and short-range missile systems near Hyderabad.
Union minister of finance, corporate affairs and defence, Arun Jaitley, performed the ground-breaking ceremony on Sunday.
The new strategic unit will be used for manufacturing, testing and storage of advanced weapon systems of medium range surface-to-air missiles and quick reaction surface-to-air missiles.
To be set up on 632 acres at Ibrahimpatnam, about 30 km from Hyderabad, the complex will host an exclusive world class manufacture and assembly unit for missiles in addition to integrating weapon systems.
BDL envisions the Ibrahimpatnam complex as its future weapon realisation and delivery unit and had so far spent Rs522 crore on the facility.
The facility, being designed as per the guidance of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) conforms to norms of the Centre for Fire, Explosive and Environment and would meet the future needs of missile testing in line with the DRDO labs.
The facility could also be used by other vendors of propellant and other sub-systems for development and production of weapons and could be a national asset, Jaitley pointed out
Earlier, Jaitley inaugurated the Astra manufacturing facility at the BDL Bhanur unit near Sangareddy. The Astra weapon system is indigenously developed air-to-air beyond the visual range missile developed by the DRDO. It comprises Astra launcher and missile and is designed as a BVR missile with a range of 110 km in head-on mode and 20 km in tail-chase mode.
Jaitley also inaugurated the 5 MW solar photovoltaic power project at the same facility designed to generate 8.5 million units of power every year.
He visited the Mishra Dhatu Nigam (MIDHANI) here, another Defence public sector unit, and inspected the facilities there. ''After returning from the units, I have developed a far greater sense of confidence in their capabilities,'' the minister said, appreciating the public sector units, including Midhani, BDL, and BEL, for their role as integral part of the country's missile programme and for making major headways in the area in recent years.
