Directorate of Ordnance (Coordination & Services)

Origins The Indian Ordnance Factories predate all the other organisations like the Indian Army and the Indian Railways by over a century. The first Indian ordnance factory can trace its origins back to the year 1712 when the Dutch Ostend Company established a Gun Powder Factory in Ichhapur. In 1787, another gunpowder factory was established at Ichapore; it began production in 1791, and the site was later used as a rifle factory, beginning in 1904. In 1801, Gun Carriage Agency (now known as Gun and Shell Factory, Cossipore) was established at Cossipore, Calcutta, and production began on 18 March 1802. This is the oldest ordnance factory in India still in existence. Contributions The Indian Ordnance Factories have not only supported India through the wars, but also played an important role in building India, with the advancement of technology, and have ushered the Industrial Revolution in India, starting with the first modern steel, aluminium, copper plants of India, first modern electric textile mill of India, first chemical industries of India, established the first engineering colleges of India, as its training schools, sparked India's first war of independence in 1857 with its rifles and bullets, and also played key role in the founding of research and industrial organisations like ISRO, DRDO, BDL, BEL, BEML, SAIL, etc. Timeline • 1712 – Establishment of the Dutch Ostend Company's Gun Powder Factory at Ichhapur. From 1 October 2021, OFB has been dissolved and all the management, control, operations and maintenance has been transferred to 7 newly formed Defence PSUs, namely: • Advanced Weapons and Equipment India Limited (AWE) • Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited (AVANI) • Gliders India Limited (GIL) • India Optel Limited (IOL) • Munitions India Limited (MIL) • Troop Comforts Limited (TCL) • Yantra India Limited (YIL) The new companies were launched and dedicated to the nation on 15 October 2021. The Government is exploring the possibility of merging five of the seven defence public undertakings as of 2023, as the output of one factory serves as the input of the other. == Infrastructure and Management ==

Headquarters • Ayudh Bhawan, Kolkata (main headquarter of DOO(C&S),) • Armoured Vehicles Headquarters, Chennai • Ordnance Equipment Factories Headquarters, Kanpur • DOO(C&S), New Delhi Office • Ordnance Factory Cell, Mumbai • Ordnance Factories Recruitment Centre, Nagpur Apex Board The Apex Board was headed by the Director General of Ordnance Factories (DGOF), who acts as the chairman of the board (ex officio Secretary to Government of India) and consisted of nine other members, who each held the rank of Additional DGOF. Ordnance factories were divided into five operating divisions, depending upon the type of the main products/technologies employed. These were: • Ammunition and Explosives • Weapons, Vehicles & Equipment • Materials and Components • Armoured Vehicles • Ordnance Equipment Group of Factories Each of the above group of factories was headed by a Member/Additional DGOF who was in the rank of Special Secretary to Government of India. The four remaining members were responsible for staff functions, viz personnel, finance, planning and material management, and technical services, and they operated from Kolkata. List of Ordnance factories Each ordnance factory was headed by a General Manager who is in the rank of Additional Secretary to the Government of India. Training institutes, regional centres and controllerates National Academy of Defence Production provides training to the IOFS officers in areas of technology, management, public administration as induction and re-orientation courses. There were Ordnance Factories Institutes of Learning (OFILs) in Ambajhari, Ambernath, Avadi, Dehradun, Ishapore, Khamaria, Kanpur and Medak. Each OFIL was headed by a principal director, and NADP by a senior principal director. NADP provided training to Group A officers, whilst the other eight institutes imparted training to Group B and Group C employees of the ordnance factories. OFB had Regional marketing centres and Regional controllerates of safety as well. Joint ventures In 2017, the Department of Defence Production under the Ministry of Defence opened itself to for Joint Ventures with OFB and DRDO was also tasked with identifying their products and patents, with the scope of commercial production ==== Indo-Russia Rifles Private Limited (IRRPL), Amethi ==== A joint venture between Ordnance Factory Board (50.5%), Kalashnikov Concern (42%) and Rosonboronexport (7.5%) established to produce AK-203 (7.62×39mm) assault rifles intended for Indian Security Forces. == Indian Ordnance Factories Service (IOFS) ==

The Indian Ordnance Factories Service (IOFS) is a civil service of the Government of India. IOFS officers are Gazetted (Group A) defence-civilian officers under the Ministry of Defence. IOFS is a multi-disciplinary composite cadre consisting of technical – engineers (civil, electrical, mechanical, electronics), technologists (aerospace, automotive, marine, industrial/product design, computer, nuclear, optical, chemical, metallurgical, textile, leather) and non-technical/administrative (science, law, commerce, management and arts graduates). Technical posts account for about 87% of the total cadre. The doctors (surgeons and physicians) serving in OFB belong to a separate service known as the Indian Ordnance Factories Health Service (IOFHS). IOFHS officers are responsible for the maintenance of health of the employees, and the hospitals of OFB. They report directly to the IOFS officers. IOFS and IOFHS are the only two civil services under the Department of Defence Production. == Products ==

The type of ordnance material produced is very diverse, including various small arms to missiles, rockets, bombs, grenades, military vehicles, armoured vehicles, chemicals, optical devices, parachutes, mortars, artillery pieces plus all associated ammunition, propellants, explosives and fuses. Civilian products Civilians are required to hold an Arms License (issued only for non-prohibited bore category weapons) in order to buy firearms in India. The following products of the Indian Ordnance Factories Board are available for civilians: Arms • IOF .22 revolver • IOF .32 revolver (7.65 mm X 23) • IOF .32 revolver Nirbheek • IOF .32 pistol Ashani • IOF .22 sporting rifle • IOF .315 sporting rifle • IOF .30-06 sporting rifle Ammunition • Cartridge Rimfire .22" Ball • Cartridge SA .32" Revolver • Cartridge SA .315" and .30-06 Ball • Cartridge SA 12 Bore 70mm • Cartridge SA 12 Bore 65 mm Special Military Products These products are exclusively manufactured for use by the armed forces and are not sold to civilians. File:DRDO MC Rifle.jpg|Multi Caliber Individual Weapon System (MCIWS) by OFT File:Carl Gustav recoilless rifle.jpg|84mm Shoulder-fired Rocket Launcher / Recoilless Gun by OFT File:The Minister of State for Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (IC), Shri Giriraj Singh visiting the exhibition, at the Defence & Homeland Security Expo and Conference 2018, in New Delhi on September 07, 2018.JPG|Minister holding a 40 mm Multi Grenade Launcher (MGL) and on the table the 38 mm Multi Shell Launcher both manufactured by OFT File:DRDOJVPC.png |Joint Venture Protective Carbine (JVPC) to be manufactured by OFT File:AGS-30 maks2009.jpg|AGS-30 Automatic Grenade Launcher by OFT File:RPG-7 detached.jpg|Rocket Propelled Grenade Launcher by OFT File:NTW-20 rifle.jpg| Vidhwansak Anti-material Sniper Rifle by OFT File:Pinaka MBRL.jpg|Pinaka rockets manufactured by OFAJ and the launcher by VFJ File:IA Artillery.jpg|Dhanush 155 mm artillery gun in L39, L45 and L52 configurations by GCF File:OFB-BEML 155 mm Truck-mounted Self-Propelled Gun System.jpg|VFJ-GCF 8X8 155 mm Truck-mounted Self-Propelled Gun System File:VFJ-GCF 105 mm Truck-mounted Self-Propelled Gun System.jpg|VFJ-GCF 105 mm Truck-mounted Self-Propelled Gun System, in 6X6 and 4X4 configurations File:Fire power demo by Artillery of Indian Army.jpg|VFJ-GCF Sharang Towed Gun File:BM-30 Smerch MLRS.jpg|Smerch rockets produced at OFAJ and launcher at VFJ File:Vehicle Factory Jabalpur (VFJ)'s Matang Truck for the Indian Army.jpg| Matang was completely developed and manufactured by VFJ. File:VFJ Flyer Internally-Transportable Vehicle (ITV), Light Strike Vehicle (LSV).jpg|VFJ Flyer Light Strike Vehicle File:Vehicle Factory Jabalpur (VFJ)'s Mine Protected Vehicle.jpg| 4X4 Mine Protected Vehicle, also in 6X6 configuration, with RCWS, recce and recovery variants File:Vehicle Factory Jabalpur (VFJ)'s LPTA 715 Truck for the Indian Army.jpg|VFJ LPTA 715 File:Vehicle Factory Jabalpur (VFJ)'s Bullet Proof Vehicle.jpg|VFJ 4X4 Bullet Proof Vehicle File:Vehicle Factory Jabalpur (VFJ)'s Stallion Truck for the Indian Army.jpg| VFJ Stallion Mark I, now being replaced by Stallion Mark IV File:Anti-G Suit MSF830.jpg| g-suits for Indian Air Force pilots flying the supersonic aircraft File:Bulletproof Vest - DRDO - Pride of India - Exhibition - 100th Indian Science Congress - Kolkata 2013-01-03 2577.JPG|Bulletproof Vest File:The Air Officer Commanding-In-Chief, Western Command, IAF, Air Marshal NAK Browne AVSM VM paying tribute to the war heroes by laying wreath at Siachen War Memorial, during his visit to Siachen Base Camp.jpg|High-altitude, low-temperature, waterproof combat uniforms File:Soldier CBRN.jpg|Chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) suit File:Indian Air Force paratroopers at Air Force Day Parade 2012.jpg|Parachutes manufactured at OPF Kanpur File:Indian Navy rescue boat belonging to INS Ranvijay (D55) during Exercise INDRA 2014.jpg|Inflatable boat Prashant manufactured at OPF Kanpur File:Indian Army CWG.jpg|Hot air balloons manufactured at OEF Hazratpur File:Bridge Layer Tank on Ajeya manufactured by Heavy Vehicles Factory (HVF) of Ordnance Factory Board.jpg|Bridge Layer Tank manufactured by HVF Chennai File:Indian Army T-90.jpg|T-90 Bhishma tank built at HVF Chennai File:T-72 FWMP.jpg|Full-width mine plough built by HVF Chennai File:Arjun Mk II side (2).JPG|Arjun Mark-II tank File:T-90 engine.jpg|Bhishma's engine at Engine Factory Avadi, Chennai File:Surface Mine Clearing System on Sarath manufactured by Ordnance Factory Medak.jpg| Surface Mine Clearing System manufactured by Ordnance Factory Medak File:AKASH Missiles.jpg|Akash missile's warhead, propellants and its launchers on Ajeya and Sarath File:NAMICS Republic day Parade 2024.jpg|Nag missile carrier (Namica) with propellants and explosives for the Nag anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) File:Agni-V during its first test flight.jpg|Propellants for the Agni missile series File:BrahMos.jpg|Explosive warheads and propellants for the BrahMos cruise missiles File:Prahaar Missile.jpg|Propellants and explosives for the Prahaar missile File:GSLV Mk III Lift Off 1.jpg| Explosives used in stage separation of GSLV are provided by OFB File:Insat-1B.jpg|Special metals and alloys used to build satellites of ISRO are supplied by OFB, along with precision instrumentation and optoelectronics File:PSLV-C11 SLP.jpg|OFB supplies the propellants and explosives for PSLV to ISRO File:Mi-35 Hind Akbar.jpg|IAF Mi-35 Hind Akbar's rockets, bombs and armaments File:SU-30MKI-g4sp - edit 2(clipped).jpg|IAF Su-30MKI's rockets, bombs, missiles, armaments and parachutes File:Tejas MK1.jpg|HAL Tejas uses armaments such as OFT's 23 mm GSh-23 Cannon and bombs File:HAL Rudra at Aero India 2013.JPG|IA HAL Rudra's anti-tank, air-to-air and anti-ship missiles, rockets and torpedoes File:INS Kadmatt - AK-630 Side View.jpg|AK-630 close-in weapon system, the mainstay of most Indian naval ships is built at GSF Kolkata File:CRN-91 on ICGS Shaunak.jpg| CRN-91 Naval Gun is the main armament of most Indian Coast Guard vessels is built at OFT Trichy and OFMK Hyderabad File:INS Satpura - SRGM Main Gun.jpg| 76 mm SRGM built by FGK Kanpur is on board the INS Vikrant and all the new vessels of the Indian Navy, its ammunition is manufactured at OFK Jabalpur File:INS Chennai launching RBU-6000 Anti-Submarine Rocket (ASW) manufactured by the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB).jpg| RBU-6000 anti-submarine rocket launcher and its rockets such as RGB-12 and RGB-60 are built at HAPP Trichy and AFK Pune File:Russian 3.9-inch guns.JPEG| AK-100 Gun and its ammunition manufactured at GSF Kolkata File:INS Chennai launching a Kavach Rocket from the Kavach Chaff Rocket Launcher manufactured by the Ordnance Factory Board.jpg|Kavach anti-missile naval decoy rockets and its launchers are built AFK Pune and MTPF Mumbai respectively == Customers ==

Armed Forces The prime customers of Indian Ordnance Factories were the Indian Armed Forces viz. Indian Army, Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force. Apart from supplying armaments to the Armed Forces, Ordnance Factories also meet the requirements of other customers viz. the Central Armed Police Forces, State Armed Police Forces, Paramilitary Forces of India and the Special Forces of India in respect of arms, ammunition, clothing, bullet proof vehicles, mine protected vehicles etc. Civil trade Customers are in the civil sector, central/state government organisations and departments such as Indian Railways, Indian Space Research Organisation, Defence Research and Development Organisation, Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre, Nuclear Fuel Complex, Aeronautical Development Agency, Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Telecommunications, and State Electricity Boards. Public Sector Undertakings in India (PSUs) such as HMT Limited, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited, Bharat Dynamics Limited, private companies and individuals etc. who purchased industrial chemicals, explosives, arms, ammunition, brass ingots, aluminium alloy products for aircraft, steel castings and forgings, vehicles, clothing and leather goods, cables and opto-electronic instruments. Exports Arms and ammunition, weapon spares, chemicals and explosives, parachutes, leather and clothing items were exported to more than 30 countries worldwide. • Asia: Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Vietnam, Nepal, Singapore • Europe: Germany, Belgium, Cyprus, Greece, Turkey, Russia, Sweden, France, Switzerland, United Kingdom • Middle East: Oman, Egypt, Israel, Saudi Arabia, UAE • Africa: Kenya, Botswana, Nigeria • North and South America: United States, Canada, Brazil, Chile, Suriname == Notable employees ==

• Narinder Singh Kapany – Former IOFS officer. Invented fibre optics that revolutionised laparoscopic and endoscopic surgery, telecommunications, power transmission, etc. Named as one of the seven "Unsung Heroes of the 20th century" by Fortune magazine for his Nobel Prize-deserving invention. Known as the "Father of Fibre Optics" and "The Man who Bent Light". Former professor at Stanford, Universities of California at Berkeley, Santa Barbara and Santa Cruz. Had more than 150 patents to his credit. • Mantosh Sondhi - IOFS. Served as the first General Manager of the Heavy Vehicles Factory, founding Chairman & Managing Director of Bokaro Steel Plant, Member of the Atomic Energy Commission of India. First IOFS officer and first non-IAS officer to hold the posts of Secretary of Ministry of Heavy Industries, Ministry of Steel, Ministry of Mines and Ministry of Coal. Awarded Padma Shri by the President of India, Commander of the Order of the Lion of Finland by the President of Finland. The headquarters of Confederation of Indian Industry is named in his honour. He also served as the Chairman of several MNCs such as Ashok Leyland, ABB, Wärtsilä. • Nalini Ranjan Mohanty - Former IOFS officer. Secured All India 2nd Rank in the Engineering Services Examination of 1965, served as the Chairman & Managing Director of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, Director of Kudremukh Iron Ore Company, Mahanadi Coalfields, National Aluminium Company (NALCO), Bharat Earth Movers (BEML). Awarded Padma Shri in 2004 by the Government of India for his role in the development of LCA – Tejas. • Brijmohan Lall Munjal - Founder of Hero MotoCorp, the world's largest two-wheeler manufacturer, and Hero Cycles, world's largest cycle manufacturer. Awarded Padma Bhushan. • H. P. S. Ahluwalia – IOFS. First Indian to climb Mount Everest. Author, mountaineer, social worker. Founder & Chairman of Indian Spinal Injuries Centre. Conferred on with the Arjuna Award, Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan by the Government of India, Fellowship of Royal Geographical Society (FRGS). Also served as a Commissioned officer in the Indian Army and Member of Planning Commission (India). • Santu Shahaney - IOFS. Served as the Director General Ordnance Factories (DGOF). He was awarded Padma Shri in 1962, and Padma Bhushan in 1965, by the Government of India, in the Civil Service category, for his contributions during the Indo-China War of 1962 and the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, respectively. • R. M. Muzumdar - IOFS. Second Indian Director General of the Indian Ordnance Factories. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan by the Government of India, in 1973, in the Civil service category, for his contributions during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 • Waman Dattatreya Patwardhan - IOFS officer. Developed the solid propellant for India's first space rocket launched from Thumba, and the detonation system of India's first nuclear bomb used in Operation Smiling Buddha. Served at the Ammunition Factory Khadki, and as the first Director of High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL) and the Armaments Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). Awarded Padma Shri in 1974. • H. G. S. Murthy - IOFS. Known as one of the "Seven Pioneers of the Indian Space Programme". He served at the Machine Tool Prototype Factory (MTPF), Ambernath, and as the first Director of the Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS), and the Space Science & Technology Centre, now known as the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). Awarded Padma Shri in 1969. that developed and manufactured the 7.62 Self-Loading Automatic Rifle, that played decisive role in India's victory in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965. • O. P. Bahl, an IOFS officer. Received Padma Shri in 1972, in the civil-service category, as the General Manager of Ammunition Factory Khadki, which developed and manufactured the anti-submarine rockets used in sinking the submarine PNS Ghazi during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. == See also ==