The Ministry of Defence plans to set up 6-8 product testing facilities to enable the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) to test their products for defence supplies, said a senior official here.

The first testing facility, likely for drones, is to come up soon, he said on Friday.

“In order to provide MSME’s a level playing field in defence supplies and also expand the vendor base, the Ministry of Defence has come up with a scheme to set up 6-8 product testing centres in the defence industrial corridors,” Rear Admiral A. George, Additional Director General Quality Assurance (Warship Projects), directorate general, quality assurance (DGQA), told reporters.

He was here to participate in the Quality Assurance-Industry Conclave South Zone.

The government has allocated about Rs 400 crore for this scheme whereby it would provide a grant-in-aid of up to 75 per cent of the cost of equipment for the product testing facility.