Rajnath nod to revised SOP for utilisation of defence ministry’s field firing ranges

NEW DELHI, OCT 7 (PTI): Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has approved the revised Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for utilisation of his ministry’s proof ranges, field firing ranges and test facilities by members of the Indian defence industry, officials said on Wednesday.
The revised SOP aims to provide simpler, transparent and industry-friendly access to these facilities, the defence ministry said.
“The procedure for calculation and payment of proof/ testing charges, wherever applicable, has been incorporated in the SOP, thereby simplifying the documentation and process for industry,” it said in a statement.
The SOP lists the proof ranges, field firing ranges and laboratory test facilities available with the DRDO, government’s quality assurance agencies and the three services for utilisation by the Indian defence industry.
The defence minister has approved the revised SOP for utilisation of such facilities of the ministry by the country’s defence industry, it said. The revised SOP provides for a detailed and simplified procedure for allotment and utilisation of such facilities, along with requisite formats.
Proof/ testing charges have been waived for iDEX, TDF, Make and other developmental projects of the Ministry of Defence, to promote Atmanirbharta in defence, the statement said.
The provision for arbitration in the existing SOP has been replaced with a simpler and industry-friendly conciliation agreement clause, to facilitate ease of doing business through faster resolution of issues faced by the indigenous defence industry, the ministry said.
“A three-day slot per quarter has been reserved at proof ranges for proof firing of developmental projects sponsored by the government, including iDEX, TDF, Make and other developmental projects of the Ministry of Defence, as well as developmental projects undertaken under the own initiative of the indigenous defence industry,” it said.
The revised SOP incorporates various government initiatives aimed at facilitating indigenisation, innovation and defence exports, besides providing proof and test support to developmental projects undertaken by the defence industry.