Rajnath Singh has reaffirmed the Government of India’s commitment to achieving self-reliance in ammunition manufacturing and positioning the country as a global production base for defence equipment. Speaking at the inauguration of a Medium Calibre Ammunition Manufacturing Facility at Solar Defence & Aerospace Limited in Nagpur, Maharashtra, on January 19, 2026, he recalled earlier challenges faced due to ammunition shortages and underlined the strategic importance of domestic manufacturing in strengthening national defence preparedness.
The newly inaugurated facility is a fully automated plant for manufacturing 30 mm ammunition, which is widely used by the Indian Army and the Indian Navy. During his visit, the Defence Minister also reviewed operations at the Pinaka rocket manufacturing unit and flagged off the first tranche of Guided Pinaka rockets for export to Armenia. Highlighting the growing role of the private sector, he noted that India is steadily advancing in ammunition production by delivering reliable and high-quality defence products.
Referring to recent achievements, the Defence Minister cited the induction of the indigenously developed Multi-Mode Hand Grenade into the Indian Army in 2021 as a key milestone in private-sector-led defence manufacturing. He also referred to the operational use of Nagastra drones developed by the Solar Group during Operation Sindoor, stating that their successful deployment demonstrated the strategic capabilities of domestically manufactured systems. He welcomed the development of more advanced versions of the platform and expressed confidence in their future operational effectiveness.
He further stated that the successful test of the ‘Bhargavastra’ counter-drone system reflects the growing technological strength of India’s private defence manufacturers. Emphasising the changing nature of modern warfare, he pointed out that conflicts today extend beyond traditional borders into areas such as technology, supply chains, trade and information. In this context, he stressed the need for a strong domestic defence industrial base and increased private sector participation in manufacturing and research and development.
The Defence Minister said the Government is working towards increasing the private sector’s share in defence manufacturing to 50% or more in the coming years. He noted that domestic defence production has risen from ₹46,425 crore in 2014 to approximately ₹1.51 lakh crore today, with over ₹33,000 crore contributed by private industry. Defence exports, which were below ₹1,000 crore a decade ago, have now reached ₹24,000 crore. He described India’s combined public and private defence manufacturing ecosystem as a unique strength and called for deeper collaboration to further enhance indigenous capabilities.
