“Increased involvement of private sector in manufacturing and R&D is the need of the hour”

Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh has voiced Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi-led Government’s commitment to achieving Aatmanirbharta in ammunition manufacturing and make the country a global production hub in the field. Inaugurating the Medium Caliber Ammunition Manufacturing Facility at the Solar Defence & Aerospace Limited in Nagpur, Maharashtra on January 19, 2026, he recalled the time when ammunition shortages hampered the country’s defence preparedness with the Government realising the need to become self-reliant in the field.

The facility, inaugurated by Raksha Mantri, is a fully automated plant manufacturing 30mm ammunition which is extensively used by the Indian Army and the Indian Navy. He had also visited the Pinaka Rocket manufacturing facility and flagged-off the first tranche of Guided Pinaka rockets to Armenia.

Commending the contribution of the private sector in making the defence sector Aatmanirbhar, Raksha Mantri stated that the nation is steadily marching forward in ammunition production as it is manufacturing quality and reliable products. He made 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. He added that Nagastra drones, manufactured by the Solar Group, were successfully used during Operation Sindoor, as it accurately struck terrorist targets, thereby proving its 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.

Shri Rajnath Singh said that the successful test launch of 'Bhargavastra' Counter Drone System, being developed by the Solar Company, 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 export potential of the country. India is no longer just an importer but is rapidly moving towards becoming an exporter, he said.

Raksha Mantri termed Operation Sindoor as an example of how important self-reliance is for the nation. He emphasised that wars are becoming increasingly complex, which demands a nation to 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 latest weapons and technologies has increased. Irrespective of the nature of war, the need of a robust defence industrial base will always remain. In such a situation, increased private sector's involvement in manufacturing and research & development is the need of the hour,” he added.

Shri 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, Raksha Mantri stated that the domestic defence production, which was only Rs 46,425 crore in 2014, has grown to a record approx. Rs 1.51 lakh crore today. He added that over Rs 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. He further said that due to the increasing participation of the private sector, India's defence exports, which were less than Rs 1,000 crore ten years ago, have now reached a record Rs 24,000 crore.

Shri Rajnath Singh pointed out that India possesses a unique and effective blend of both public & 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 & rapidly growing private companies. 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 two sectors must complement each other, recognise each other's strengths, and utilise them for the national benefit,” he added. Defence Secretary Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh and representatives of Solar Defence & Aerospace Limited were present on the occasion.