By A Correspondent
Nagpur (Maharashtra): India’s Minister of Defence Rajnath Singh, on January 18, 2026, voiced the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government’s commitment to achieving ‘Aatmanirbharta’ (self-reliance) in ammunition manufacturing and making the country a global production hub.
Inaugurating the Medium Caliber Ammunition Manufacturing Facility at the Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited here, Rajnath Singh recalled the time when ammunition shortages hampered the country’s defence preparedness, with the government realising the need to become self-reliant.
The facility is a fully automated plant for producing 30mm ammunition, extensively used by the Indian Army and the Indian Navy. He also visited the Pinaka rockets manufacturing facility and flagged off the first tranche of guided rockets to Armenia.
Commending the contribution of the private sector in making the defence sector self-reliant, the Defence Minister said the nation is steadily marching forward in ammunition production as it is manufacturing quality and reliable products.
He made a special mention of the handing over of the Multi-Mode Hand Grenade, a fully Indian-made ammunition manufactured by the private sector, to the Indian Army in 2021.
Rajnath Singh said the Nagastra drones, manufactured by the Solar Group, were successfully used during Operation Sindoor, as they accurately struck terrorist targets, thereby proving their strategic capability.
He appreciated the development of more advanced versions of Nagastra, exuding confidence that the weapons will prove extremely lethal to the nation’s enemies if needed in the future.
Rajnath Singh said that the successful test launch of the ‘Bhargavastra’ Counter Drone System, being developed by Solar Industries, showcases the technological capabilities of the private sector.
He added that the exports of Pinaka missiles developed at the facility have begun, demonstrating the capabilities of the defence industry in further strengthening the country’s export potential. “India is no longer just an importer but is rapidly moving towards becoming an exporter,” he said.
The Defence Minister termed Operation Sindoor as an example of how self-reliance was important for the nation. He emphasised that wars are becoming increasingly complex, which demands that a nation prepare itself on a war footing.
“New methods of warfare are emerging. Wars are no longer confined to borders. Areas such as energy, trade, tariffs, supply chains, technology, and information have also become new dimensions of conflict. The importance of border vigilance and the latest weapons and technologies has increased.
“Irrespective of the nature of war, the need for a robust defence industrial base will always remain. In such a situation, increased private sector involvement in manufacturing and research and development is the need of the hour,” he added.
Rajnath Singh stressed that the government is focusing on ensuring that the private sector’s role in defence manufacturing reaches 50% or more in the coming times.
The capabilities and innovations of the private sector clearly demonstrate its full potential, he said, expressing confidence that the goal will soon be achieved.
“The government is making every effort to strengthen the private sector and promote domestic vendors. We have decided to gradually indigenise our platforms, systems, and subsystems.
“Even for those things that we cannot manufacture, a provision for at least 50% indigenous content has been made. As a result of these efforts, we have been successful in increasing our indigenous content in many areas. This has also boosted the morale of the private sector,” he said.
Enumerating the results achieved due to the government’s consistent push towards self-reliance, the Defence Minister said the domestic defence production, which was only INR 46,425 crore in 2014, has grown to a record INR 151,000 crore today.
He added that over INR 33,000 crore of this contribution comes from the private sector, indicating that private industries are becoming partners in achieving the goal of Aatmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India).
He further said that due to the increasing participation of the private sector, India’s defence exports, which were less than INR 1,000 crore ten years ago, have now reached a record INR 24,000 crore.
Rajnath Singh pointed out that India possesses a unique and effective blend of both public and private sectors in its defence manufacturing ecosystem, calling it the nation’s greatest strength.
“We have capable and experienced public sector institutions, along with a strong and rapidly growing private sector. This balance is quite rare.
“There is a need to deepen this synergy, further enhance the capabilities of the private sector, constantly update them, and provide them with new technology, new opportunities, and new responsibilities, so that they can move forward in tandem with the public sector,” the Defence Minister said.
“The two sectors must complement each other, recognise each other’s strengths, and utilise them for the national benefit,” he added.
Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh and representatives of Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited were present on the occasion.
NOTE: Follow Defence.Capital on Arattai.
NOTE: Follow Defence.Capital on Telegram.
NOTE: Follow Defence.Capital on WhatsApp.
