- Ordnance Factories Organisation
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The Indian Ordnance Factories Board is an industrial setup functioning under the Ministry of Defence, Government of India. It is engaged in production of arms, ammunition, and equipment for civilian as well as military applications. Headquartered in Kolkata, it comprises 40 factories, nine training institutes, three Regional Marketing Centres and four Regional Controller of Safety.
Contents
History
The history and development of Indian ordnance factories can be traced to the British regime. In 1775, the British authorities in India accepted the establishment of Board of Ordnance in Fort William, Kolkata. This marks the official beginning of the Army Ordnance in India.
There were 18 ordnance factories in the country before 1947. Twenty-one factories were established after independence - mostly, in the wake of defence preparedness imperatives caused by three major wars fought by the Indian Armed Forces. The 40th factory is being set up at Nalanda in Bihar. Main events in the evolution of Ordnance Factory can be listed as below: 1801 - Establishment of Gun Carriage Agency at Cossipore, Kolkata. 1802 - Production started from 18th March 1802 at Cossipore. 1906 - The Administration of Indian Ordnance Factories came under a separate charge as 'IG of Ordnance Factories'. 1933 - Charged to 'Director of Ordnance Factories'. 1948 - Placed under direct control of Ministry of Defence. 1962 - Dept. of Defence Production was set up at Ministry of Defence. 1979 - Ordnance Factory Board came into existence from 2nd April.
Products
The type of ordnance material produced is very diverse, ranging from various small arms through to rockets, grenades, mortars, artillery pieces plus all associated ammunition, propellants, explosives and fuses.
Products available to civilians:
Civilians are required to hold Arms Licence (issued only for non-prohibited bore category weapons) in order to buy firearms in India. The following products of the Indian Ordanance Factories Board are available for civilians:
- IOF .22 revolver
- IOF .32 revolver (7.65 mm X 23)
- IOF .32 pistol Ashani
- IOF .22 Sporting Rifle
- IOF.315 Sporting Rifle
- IOF.30-06 Sporting Rifle
Products not available to civilians:
The IOFB also produces Weapons, Ammunition, Explosives, Propellants & Chemicals, Military Vehicles, Armoured Vehicles, Optical Devices, Parachutes, Support Equipment, Troop Comfort, General Stores, and Material, Components & SPMs.
- Pistol AUTO 9 mm 1A, semi-automatic pistol.
- INSAS rifle, family of infantry arms consisting of an assault rifle, a light machine gun and a carbine.
- AK-47, assault rifle
- Ishapore 2A1 rifle, 7.62mm NATO (7.62x51) calibre bolt-action rifle
- Vidhwansak, multi-caliber anti-materiel rifle
Ammunition
- Cargo Ammunition: Ordnance Factory Board entered into a joint venture to Israel Military Industries (IMI) to manufacture cargo ammunition. The ammunition would be produced at the Khamaria Ordnance factory near Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh.[1]
References
- ^ "Ordnance Board to produce `cargo ammunition' with Israeli company". The Hindu (Chennai, India). Aug 02, 2006. http://www.hindu.com/2006/08/02/stories/2006080221121500.htm. Retrieved 2008-02-16.
External links
Categories:- Military of India
- Firearms manufacturers in India
- Defence companies of India
- Ministry of Defence (India)
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