SOURCE: AFI
In a landmark achievement for India’s defense sector, Reliance Infrastructure, led by Anil Ambani, has become the first private Indian company to design and develop next-generation 155mm artillery ammunition, a critical component for long-range ground warfare. This development, announced on June 3, 2025, marks a significant step toward reducing India’s reliance on imported munitions and strengthening its indigenous defense manufacturing under the ‘Make in India’ initiative.
The advanced 155mm artillery shells were developed under a Design-cum-Production Partner (DcPP) arrangement with the Defence Research and Development Organisation’s (DRDO) Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) in Pune. According to a Reliance Infrastructure spokesperson, the company has successfully developed four types of these shells using fully indigenous technology, with development work completed and production ready to commence immediately. Ten Indian companies have been integrated into the supply chain, ensuring a robust domestic ecosystem for manufacturing.
The significance of this milestone is underscored by the competitive selection process, where Reliance Infrastructure emerged as the sole private-sector participant alongside the public-sector Yantra India Limited. This achievement highlights the company’s growing prowess in defense manufacturing and its alignment with India’s strategic goal of self-reliance in defense production.
Reliance Infrastructure is eyeing a substantial business opportunity, targeting orders worth ?10,000 crore from the Ministry of Defence over the next decade. Additionally, the company aims to tap into the global market, with potential export revenues of another ?10,000 crore, driven by the ammunition’s superior range and accuracy. The primary export markets include European Union countries, where demand for artillery ammunition restocking is estimated at ?4,00,000 crore, according to industry experts.
This development comes at a time when the Indian Army’s expenditure on ammunition is projected to grow significantly, from ?7,000 crore in 2023 to ?12,000 crore annually by 2032, as per a recent KPMG report. Reliance Infrastructure’s initiative positions it to meet this rising demand while contributing to India’s ambition of becoming one of the top three exporters of defense equipment and services.
To support this venture, Reliance Infrastructure is establishing a greenfield ammunition and explosives manufacturing facility at Dhirubhai Ambani Defence City (DADC) in Ratnagiri, Maharashtra, with an investment of ?5,000 crore. Spanning 1,000 acres in the Watad Industrial Area, DADC is poised to be the largest greenfield defense project by a private company in India. The facility will have an annual capacity to produce up to 200,000 artillery shells, 10,000 tons of explosives, and 2,000 tons of propellants, significantly boosting India’s indigenous production capabilities.
Further strengthening its global outreach, Reliance Defence, a subsidiary of Reliance Infrastructure, has forged a strategic partnership with Rheinmetall AG, a leading German arms manufacturer. This collaboration will involve the supply of explosives and propellants for medium and large-caliber ammunition, enhancing Reliance’s position in the international defense market.
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