Midhani Group to set up defence testing infrastructure in Lucknow node of UP DIC

Lucknow : Aligned with Prime Minister Modi’s vision to fortify India’s defence sector and space technology infrastructure, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s government is actively pursuing its mission. 

On Thursday, Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA) and Midhani Group signed an MoU in the presence of the state’s Chief Secretary, Manoj Kumar Singh, to establish defence testing infrastructure in the Lucknow node of the UP Defence Industrial Corridor. 

This defence testing infrastructure has been named Advanced Material (Defence) Testing Foundation.

Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Singh emphasized, “Uttar Pradesh is playing a pivotal role in bolstering the nation’s defence industry infrastructure while striving to become a global hub for defence manufacturing and innovation. The Lucknow node is an important part of the Defence Corridor, and a significant MoU has been inked between UPEIDA and Midhani Group to establish a material testing facility here.”

He highlighted that the construction of this defence testing infrastructure, first in the state and  second in the country, will propel the ‘Aatma Nirbhar Bharat’ campaign forward. The mechanical and material testing facility will not only enhance India’s defence manufacturing infrastructure and promote innovation but will also position Uttar Pradesh as a key defence sector hub.   

The foundation will not only help improve products of the industries being set up in the Defence Corridor, but also in marketing the, after certification. Additionally, metal industries and MSMEs in Aligarh and Moradabad will also benefit from this development.

The government’s objective behind the move is to create greenfield defence testing infrastructure (required for A&D related production) as a common facility for manufacturing, research and development and technology in defence sector. 

UPEIDA has been appointed as the implementing authority for this initiative, tasked with ensuring the timely completion and efficient operation of the defense testing infrastructure.

During the MoU, Midhani Group CMD SK Jha and Additional CEO UPDA Haripratap Shahi along with other officials were present.

*UP and Tamil Nadu have defence industrial corridors*

India is rapidly emerging as a significant aerospace and defence market globally, with anticipated requirements exceeding US $250 billion by 2025. The aerospace and defence (A&D) manufacturing sectors have been identified as focus areas under the ‘Make in India’ initiative. 

Under this, the Ministry of Defence has established defense industrial corridors in Uttar Pradesh (UP DIC) and Tamil Nadu (TN DIC). In this, Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor (UP DIC) has been established by the state government. 

The primary objective of this corridor is to accelerate the Make in India program within the defence sector, fostering indigenous defence production. This initiative aims to reduce the country’s dependency on imported military equipment significantly.