In a significant boost to India’s defence manufacturing ecosystem, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has approved a revised Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to facilitate easier access for private defence manufacturers to field firing ranges, proof ranges and testing facilities under the control of the Armed Forces and other defence establishments.
The move is expected to reduce testing delays for indigenous weapon systems and strengthen the country’s self-reliance goals in the defence sector.
The revised SOP, approved by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on 7 October 2026 streamlines the process for industry access to testing infrastructure maintained by the Armed Forces, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Directorate General of Quality Assurance (DGQA).
The updated framework is aimed at promoting innovation, supporting indigenous defence technologies and enhancing India’s defence export capabilities.
According to the Ministry release, the new mechanism simplifies procedural requirements and provides a consolidated view of available testing facilities, enabling defence companies to plan and conduct trials more efficiently.
The SOP also includes provisions for dedicated testing slots for developmental projects and waivers of testing charges for selected programmes under initiatives such as Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX), Technology Development Fund (TDF) and the ‘Make’ category projects.
Addressing a Long-Standing Industry Challenge
Access to testing infrastructure has historically been one of the biggest challenges facing India’s private defence sector. Companies developing missiles, drones, artillery systems, ammunition and advanced military technologies often depend on government-owned proving grounds and field firing ranges to validate their products before induction or export.
Limited availability of testing windows and lengthy approval procedures have frequently resulted in delays in product development cycles, affecting both procurement timelines and export opportunities.
Industry experts believe that easier access to Army-controlled firing ranges and defence testing facilities will reduce these bottlenecks and help domestic manufacturers accelerate the transition from prototype development to operational deployment.
Boost for Made-in-India weapons and weapons systems
The decision aligns with the government’s broader vision of strengthening indigenous defence production under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
Over the past few years, India has increasingly encouraged private-sector participation in defence manufacturing through reforms in procurement, defence industrial licensing, innovation funding and export promotion.
By opening critical testing infrastructure to a wider pool of domestic companies, the government aims to create a more competitive and innovation-driven defence industrial base capable of developing next-generation military equipment for both Indian armed forces and international markets.
Opportunities for Start-ups and MSMEs
The revised SOP is expected to particularly benefit defence start-ups and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), many of which lack access to independent testing facilities.
Reduced costs and simplified procedures could encourage greater participation in defence innovation programmes and speed up the development of emerging technologies such as autonomous systems, loitering munitions, counter-drone solutions and artificial intelligence-enabled military applications.
Analysts view the move as another step in India’s evolving defence-industrial strategy, where private companies are increasingly being integrated into the country’s military modernisation efforts alongside traditional public-sector defence establishments.
With defence exports reaching record levels in recent years and indigenous systems finding growing acceptance in global markets, improved access to testing infrastructure is expected to play a crucial role in strengthening India’s position as an emerging defence manufacturing hub.
