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The Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) has invested ₹1,800 crore in the first two years of the 12th Plan.
For 2014-15, the identified investment figure is between ₹1,000-1,200 crore, said MC Bansal, Director General Ordnance Factories and Chairman, OFB.
“Out of the current Plan period investment target of ₹11,000 crore, the total investment till now has been of ₹1,800 crore. This year’s investment figure would be around ₹1,200 crore,” Bansal told Business Line.
According to Ravi Kant, Secretary of OFB, the annual Budget would determine the precise investment amount.
OFB has been investing in modernisation, expansion of capacities and infrastructure building. Ravi Kant said the current investment focus areas were on armoured vehicles, ammunitions and weapons.
The proposed products include new generation assault rifles, artillery and mounted guns, rockets and very short range air defence missile.
Both Bansal and Kant said a number of equipment orders had been placed for the ongoing expansion exercise. “There is a time lag between the issuing of orders and erection. Similarly, the Budget allocation also delayed some of the projects. But, eventually we are progressing to meet the Plan target,” Kant said.
OFB research and development establishments have developed several new products for the defence forces.
These include anti-submarine rockets and shells, platform for the AN 32 aircraft thermal imaging night-sight gadgets and indigenous barrel for T-90 tanks
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