The Directorate General of Aeronautical Quality Assurance (DGAQA) is an organisation under Department of Defence Production, Ministry of Defence. This organisation is the regulatory authority for quality assurance and final acceptance of military aircraft, aero engines, airborne systems, avionics, armament, allied ground system and missiles during development, production and overhaul at various defence PSUs.

DGAQA ensures documentation, codification and standardisation action for minimising the variety of components / equipment and materials. The other services rendered are promotion of small scale industries, post procurement services, defect investigations and technical consultancy to the users, Ministry and the production agencies.

The establishments under this organisation are spread all over the country in defence public sector undertakings, ordnance factories and few private companies.

DGAQA is also the nodal agency for Missiles System Quality Assurance (inter services establishment) under the Integrated Guided Missiles Development Programme (IGMDP) set up at DRDL, Hyderabad.

The aim of this website is to provide a bird's eye view of DGAQA organisation and its functionalities.

The increasing significance of the role of air power in warfare underscores the need to acquire might in air. This calls for military aircraft and all other associated equipment to be of high quality, reliability and state-of- the- art technology. The complexity of technology and the critical role of airborne equipment make Quality Assurance (QA) very significant.

The Directorate General of Aeronautical Quality Assurance (DGAQA) was established in 1954 under the auspices of Department of Defence Production and Supplies, Ministry of Defence (M.O.D) as Directorate of Technical Development and Production (Air) [DTD&P (Air)], under Defence Science Services (DSS). In 1979, DSS was trifurcated into Defence Research & Development Service (DRDS), Defence Quality Assurance Service (DQAS) and Defence Aeronautical Quality Assurance Service (DAQAS). R&D Establishments and Certification Functions were transferred to Defence research & Development Organisation (DRDO), Quality Assurance and related responsibilities in respect of Defence Aeronautical Stores were vested with DTD&P(Air). DTD&P(Air) was subsequently rechristened as DGAQA in 1996. DAQAS is an Organised Group A Scientific Service.

The role envisaged for the organisation initially included development activities, inspection in the field of military aircraft, airborne systems and other aeronautical stores and their certification. It included R & D organizations like Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) and Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE). In the subsequent organizational changes, it continued as a QA organisation for Military Aviation with additional duties such as vendor development and related activities. Over the years, the organisation has acquired necessary strength and has grown into an active QA regulatory authority, in line with counterparts world-wide, in the field of military aircraft related stores for the services and para-military agencies within the country.

With increasing necessity to develop and manufacture sophisticated defence equipment indigenously, the future role of public and private sectors in supply of aeronautical store is bound to grow. India’s military aircraft industry is acquiring depth and spread, posing a significant challenge to the QA function in general and regulatory organizations like DGAQA in particular. The task of DGAQA is becoming more elaborate and challanging in view of the large number of associated work centres, spread far and wide, necessitating a large parallel effort to monitor QA systems, not only large in numbers but also new to the rigours of practices in aviation section.

The future is therefore very challenging. That the quality will have to be major common denominator of our wares makes it a compulsory course to adopt. We are fully geared up to face these challenges of the future, in a role supportive to the premier organizations of the country, making a headway into this internationally competitive field, in pursuit of our national premier military aeronautical organizations of the country, ,making a headway into this internationally competitive field, in pursuit of our national aeronautical ambitions.

During production & overhaul:

This is a major area of activity of DGAQA. The emphasis is on ensuring that the requisite Quality Assurance (QA) system is in place at all production / overhaul agencies. The compliance in respect of this requirement is being regularly monitored through critical to quality inspection stages as well as quality audits and surprise checks. Quality Assurance coverage is being provided during production/overhaul work being carried out at various work centres comprising of Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) like HAL, BEL, ITI, GCEL, ECIL, Ordnance Factories, DRDO Labs, as also many Private Sector organisations.

During development as a force multiplier:

DGAQA participates actively in the development projects undertaken by DRDO labs, ordnance factories, defence PSUs and private sector. Its involvement ranges from the early stages of development activity such as finalisation of QRs, test/inspection schedules, evaluation of prototypes and flight trials in order to ensure conformance to quality and reliability requirements.

DGAQA is presently associated with major national development projects such as Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH), Pilotless Target Aircraft (LAKSHYA), Remotely Piloted Vehicle (FALCON), IJT, Kaveri Engine and may other electronic warfare and avionic projects.

For missiles:

A separate agency i.e. Missile Systems Quality Assurance Agency (MSQAA) was established under the overall control of DGAQA in 1990 to provide QA coverage during development and production of missiles under the Integrated Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) of the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO).

The missiles (with variants for the three services) covered in this programme are: