Defence Minister Rajnath Singh lays the foundation stone for a tank overhaul facility in Madhya Pradesh, marking significant growth in defence production and exports.
India's progress towards self-reliance in the defence sector was emphasized by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh during his recent visit to Vehicle Factory Jabalpur (VFJ) in Madhya Pradesh. The minister laid the foundation stone for a new facility to overhaul T-series battle tanks at VFJ, a move expected to boost India's defence manufacturing capabilities.
Mr Singh revealed that defence production has nearly quadrupled from approximately 45,000 crore rupees in 2010 to around 1.8 lakh crore rupees as of the current decade. Concurrently, defence exports have surged from 9,600 crore rupees in 2010-11 to nearly 39,000 crore rupees over the past ten years.
The tank overhaul project is considered a significant milestone for India’s self-reliant industrial ecosystem, according to Singh. Apart from providing employment opportunities for locals, the facility is expected to overhaul 80 T-72 and T-90 tanks annually, with the Indian Army requiring the overhaul of around 230 such tanks every year.
Established in 1969, VFJ initially produced Shaktiman 3-tonne vehicles in collaboration with Germany’s MAN, as well as Nissan 1T and Jonga vehicles in collaboration with Japan’s Nissan Motors Co. The factory complex is spread over 330 acres, while its adjoining estate covers another 600 acres, officials said.
Source:
Akashvani News
