The Ordnance Parachute Factory (OPF) was established in 1941 during World War II, at KEM Hall, Phool Bagh, Kanpur. It began as a small repair unit for man-carrying parachutes, supporting airborne troops at a time when India was still under British rule. After independence, the factory was shifted to its present location on Napier Road, Kanpur Cantonment, where it grew into a dedicated production facility. OPF thus became one of the earliest parachute manufacturing establishments in Asia and an important step in India’s journey towards self-reliance in defence production.
The 1960s marked a period of expansion. During the 1962 Sino-Indian War, the importance of reliable supply drop systems became clear, and OPF responded by producing supply drop parachutes and military uniforms. By 1970, the factory had established bulk production of personnel parachutes such as the PTR-M and PTR-R models. The following year, in the build-up to the 1971 India-Pakistan conflict, OPF diversified into new areas, including floats for the Kanpur-Meerut bridge and inflatable boats for amphibious operations. These innovations ensured that Indian forces had indigenous equipment for rapid deployment and riverine warfare.
In the decades that followed, OPF continued to modernise and diversify its product line. It began producing brake parachutes for fighter aircraft, ejection seat parachutes for pilots, and specialised ammunition and illuminating parachutes. The factory won Ordnance Factory efficiency awards in 1984 and 1989 for its high standards of production. By the mid-1990s, it had also secured international recognition, earning ISO-9001 certification in 1996, which confirmed its compliance with global quality systems.
The 2000s and beyond saw OPF move into more advanced technologies. It developed combat freefall parachutes for India’s special forces, aerial delivery systems for large cargo, and continued to provide rescue and brake parachutes for the Indian Air Force. In 2023, the factory reached a new milestone when it was awarded AS9100D certification, the globally recognised aerospace quality standard. This achievement opened the door for OPF products not only in defence but also in civil aviation, space applications, and disaster relief.
Administratively, OPF was long managed under the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB). However, in 2021, as part of the Government of India’s corporatisation reforms, OPF was placed under Gliders India Limited (GIL), a defence public sector undertaking. Today, it is the only production unit of GIL and continues to play a vital role in supplying parachutes, inflatable gear, and aerial delivery systems to the Indian armed forces.
Across more than eight decades, OPF has supported India in every major war and military operation since independence, from the 1962 conflict with China to the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War and beyond. From its humble beginnings as a repair unit, it has grown into a strategic defence manufacturer and the backbone of India’s parachute capability. Its history reflects both the evolution of India’s military needs and the country’s broader path toward indigenisation in defence technology.