**Summary:**
On July 28, 2025, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation Limited (TIDCO) to establish a state-of-the-art testing facility in the Mechanical Material domain within the Tamil Nadu Defence Industrial Corridor, specifically in Tiruchirappalli. This initiative falls under the Defence Testing Infrastructure Scheme (DTIS). The DTIS provides up to 75% government funding as Grant-in-Aid, with the remaining 25% funded by a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV). Micro Labs, a private entity, leads the SPV, which also includes TIDCO, Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML), Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), and Vaidheswaran Industries. The project aims to enhance indigenous defence production (Aatmanirbharta) by providing advanced testing equipment and services to both government and private industries, reducing reliance on military equipment imports. The DTIS, launched with an outlay of Rs 400 Crore, has approved seven testing facilities in total: four in Tamil Nadu and three in Uttar Pradesh, to bolster the defence and aerospace sectors within the Defence Industrial Corridors. The MoU exchange took place in New Delhi in the presence of Secretary Defence Production, MoD Shri Sanjeev Kumar.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Defence: The Union Government Ministry responsible for India's defence.
Tamil Nadu: A state in southern India where the Defence Industrial Corridor and testing facility are located.
Defence Testing Infrastructure Scheme: A scheme (DTIS) to establish state-of-the-art testing facilities for the defence sector.
Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation Limited: A corporation involved in establishing the testing facility, and a member of the SPV.
Sanjeev Kumar: Secretary of Defence Production, Ministry of Defence.
Micro Labs: A private entity and the lead member of the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) for the testing facility project.
Bharat Earth Movers Limited: A member of the SPV consortium for the testing facility project.
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited: A member of the SPV consortium for the testing facility project.
Ministry of Defence
Ministry of Defence to set up testing facility in
Mechanical & Material domain in Tamil Nadu
Defence Industrial Corridor
Posted On: 28 JUL 2025 5:42PM by PIB Delhi
Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed an MoU to establish a state-of-the-art testing facility in Mechanical &
Material domain Tamil Nadu Defence Industrial Corridor in Tiruchirappalli under the Defence Testing
Infrastructure Scheme (DTIS), on July 28, 2025 in New Delhi. The MoU was exchanged between the senior
officials of MoD and Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation Limited (TIDCO), in the presence of
Secretary (Defence Production), MoD Shri Sanjeev Kumar.
The DTIS provides up to 75% government funding as ‘Grant-in-Aid’, with the remaining 25% funded
by the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), comprising Indian private entities and State/Central
Governments.
For the Mechanical & Material domain testing facility, Micro Labs, a private entity, is the lead SPV
member. Other members of the SPV consortium are Tamilnadu Industrial Development Corporation
Limited, Bharat Earth Movers Limited, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and Vaidheswaran Industries.
Upon the completion of the project, it will provide advanced testing equipment and services to both
government and private industry, thus giving a boost to ‘Aatmanirbharta’ in defence.
With an outlay of Rs 400 Crore, the DTIS was launched by Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh, to set up state-
of-the-art testing facilities in collaboration with private industry and Central/State Government. The objective
is to promote Aatmnirbharta through indigenous defence production and by reducing military equipment
imports. To provide impetus to defence and aerospace sectors within the Defence Industrial Corridors, seven
testing facilities were approved – four in Tamil Nadu and three in Uttar Pradesh.****
VK/SR/SS
(Release ID: 2149370)