Rs 1,331-cr defence equipment sent for mends in three years

Defence equipment worth Rs 1,331 crore have been Returned-For-Rectification (RFR) over the last three years, of which 209 items were Depth Charge MK-11, an anti-submarine weapon, the government today said.
In a written reply in Rajya Sabha, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said equipment worth Rs 402.60 crore were RFR in 2013-14, followed by Rs 445.61 crore, and Rs 483.08 crore in 2014-15, and 2015-16 respectively.
Of these, maximum RFR was in case of weapons (185) and Depth Charge MK-11 MoD-2 (209), ammunition (50) and combat vehicles (21).
In order to avoid this, Parrikar said, in each Ordnance Factory, officers have been nominated as Quality Control Officer, dedicated to look after the quality area of the factory.

"In order to monitor and ensure adherence to production process to the laid down QA (Quality Audit) plans, Ordnance Factory Board has set up an Independent authority in the form of 10 QAG (Quality Audit Groups) centres.
"These groups have been mandated to carry out the Audit of existing Quality Control System with respect to Input Material, Manufacturing Process, and adherence to specified acceptance criterion and report directly to Ordnance Factory Board," the minister said.
Responding to another question, Parrikar said 36 FDI/Joint Venture proposals in the defense sector have been approved so far.