Raksha Mantri inaugurates medium-calibre ammunition facility in Nagpur, flags off first consignment of Guided Pinaka rockets to Armenia; calls for private sector share of over 50% in defence manufacturing
TFP Bureau, Nagpur, January 18, 2026: Reaffirming the Government of India’s resolve to achieve complete self-reliance in defence production, Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh on Monday said the country is firmly on course to become a global hub for ammunition manufacturing. He underlined that strengthening indigenous capabilities and expanding private sector participation are central to ensuring national security in an increasingly complex global environment.
The Defence Minister was speaking after inaugurating a state-of-the-art Medium Calibre Ammunition Manufacturing Facility at Solar Defence & Aerospace Limited in Nagpur, Maharashtra. On the occasion, he also visited the company’s Pinaka rocket manufacturing unit and flagged off the first tranche of Guided Pinaka rockets being exported to Armenia, marking another milestone in India’s growing defence exports.
The newly inaugurated facility is a fully automated plant designed to manufacture 30 mm ammunition, which is extensively used by the Indian Army and the Indian Navy. Shri Rajnath Singh said the facility symbolises India’s transition from dependence on imports to self-sufficiency in critical defence supplies. Recalling earlier periods when shortages of ammunition adversely affected defence preparedness, he said those challenges underscored the urgent need for Aatmanirbharta in defence manufacturing.
Commending the contribution of private industry, the Defence Minister noted that India is now producing high-quality and reliable ammunition domestically. He cited the induction of the indigenously developed Multi-Mode Hand Grenade, manufactured by the private sector and handed over to the Indian Army in 2021, as a landmark achievement. He also referred to the successful operational use of Nagastra loitering munitions developed by the Solar Group during Operation Sindoor, stating that their precision strikes on terrorist targets demonstrated the growing technological maturity of Indian private defence manufacturers.
Shri Rajnath Singh further praised the development and successful test launch of the ‘Bhargavastra’ Counter Drone System by the Solar Group, calling it a clear reflection of the private sector’s innovation and research capabilities. He said the commencement of exports of Pinaka missile systems from the facility illustrates that India is no longer merely an arms importer but is steadily emerging as a credible exporter in the global defence market.
Describing Operation Sindoor as a strong example of the importance of self-reliance, the Defence Minister observed that the nature of warfare is rapidly evolving. “Wars today are no longer limited to borders. Energy security, trade, tariffs, supply chains, technology and information have all become new theatres of conflict,” he said, adding that this changing landscape demands a robust and resilient domestic defence industrial base. In this context, he stressed that greater private sector involvement in manufacturing and research and development is no longer optional but essential.
Shri Rajnath Singh stated that the government is working with the clear objective of increasing the private sector’s share in defence manufacturing to 50 per cent or more in the near future. He said policies are being aligned to promote domestic vendors, gradually indigenise platforms, systems and subsystems, and ensure at least 50 per cent indigenous content even in areas where complete domestic production is not immediately feasible.
Highlighting the tangible outcomes of the government’s sustained push for self-reliance, the Defence Minister said India’s domestic defence production has risen from ₹46,425 crore in 2014 to an all-time high of approximately ₹1.51 lakh crore today. Of this, over ₹33,000 crore is contributed by the private sector, reflecting its growing role as a strategic partner in national defence. He added that defence exports have witnessed a dramatic rise, from less than ₹1,000 crore a decade ago to a record ₹24,000 crore at present.
Calling India’s defence manufacturing ecosystem unique, Shri Rajnath Singh said the country benefits from a rare and effective blend of experienced public sector undertakings and a rapidly expanding private industry. He emphasised the need to deepen this synergy by enhancing private sector capabilities, providing access to advanced technologies and assigning greater responsibilities so that both sectors can complement each other for the nation’s benefit.
Defence Secretary Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh and senior representatives of Solar Defence & Aerospace Limited were present at the event, which marked another significant step in India’s journey towards becoming an Aatmanirbhar and globally competitive defence manufacturing powerhouse.
