Shirdi: India’s defence self-reliance mission received a significant boost on Saturday as Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated a state-of-the-art indigenous 155 mm artillery shell manufacturing plant in Shirdi, Maharashtra.
The massive facility, established by Nibe Limited at the Savli Vihir Industrial Estate, is being seen as a major milestone in the country’s “Make in India” defence manufacturing drive.
आज का भारत अत्याधुनिक हथियार प्रणालियों का इनोवैटर और निर्माता बन रहा है। जब सरकार का विज़न और प्राइवेट सेक्टर का इनोवैशन साथ आते हैं, तब राष्ट्र नई ऊँचाइयाँ छूता है, और आज हम वही होते हुए देख रहे हैं। pic.twitter.com/cHvR8hokT3
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) May 23, 2026
Plant to Produce Five Lakh Artillery Shells Annually
Spread across nearly 200 acres, the new defence complex has the capacity to manufacture up to five lakh artillery shells every year using fully indigenous technology and locally sourced raw materials.
Officials said the entire project was completed within just one year, reflecting the rapid pace at which India is scaling up its domestic defence production capabilities.
The Shirdi facility is expected to strengthen India’s artillery ammunition supply chain while reducing dependence on foreign imports.
Rajnath Singh Highlights India’s Defence Transformation
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Rajnath Singh said India has moved far beyond its earlier image as one of the world’s largest defence importers and is now steadily emerging as a global exporter of military equipment.
He noted that private sector participation in India’s defence manufacturing currently stands at around 30–35 per cent and is likely to rise to nearly 50 per cent in the coming years.
The Defence Minister stressed that future global power would increasingly depend on technological innovation, industrial capability and advanced defence manufacturing ecosystems.
He also pointed out that more than 5,000 defence items have already been identified for indigenous manufacturing under the Centre’s localisation push.
Inaugurated a Defence Manufacturing Complex of a private sector company, NIBE Group, at Shirdi today. The complex intends to manufacture advanced artillery systems, missile & space technologies, rocket systems, energetic materials, and autonomous defence platforms.
India’s… pic.twitter.com/59b7wRrKQQ
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) May 23, 2026
Maharashtra Eyes Major Defence Manufacturing Corridor
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the project would transform Ahilyanagar district into a major defence and aerospace manufacturing hub.
Fadnavis also announced ambitious future plans for manufacturing seaplanes capable of operating on India’s reservoirs, rivers and inland water bodies.
The announcement signals Maharashtra’s growing role in India’s expanding defence-industrial ecosystem.
Nibe Signs Strategic Deal With Israeli Firm
During the inauguration event, the Nibe Group signed agreements with an Israeli company for collaboration in seaplane manufacturing and optical satellite technologies.
The partnership is expected to boost India’s aerospace, surveillance and advanced defence technology capabilities while opening doors for future global collaborations.
CDS Anil Chauhan Stresses AI-Driven Warfare Readiness
Chief of Defence Staff Anil Chauhan said India is already exporting missiles and defence systems to over 100 countries.
He emphasized that modern warfare is rapidly shifting towards AI-driven and next-generation technologies, making a strong industrial base crucial for India’s future military preparedness.
Nibe Expanding Into Missiles, Drones and Rocket Systems
Nibe Group Executive Director Ganesh Nibe revealed that the company has already contributed to several indigenous defence programmes, including Pinaka, BrahMos, Garudastra and Vayustra missile systems.
He added that multiple advanced defence projects are also under development at the Shirdi industrial complex, including rocket launchers, long-range rocket components, autonomous drones and sophisticated electronic testing facilities.
India’s Defence Export Ambitions Gather Pace
The inauguration comes at a time when India is aggressively expanding its domestic defence manufacturing and export ecosystem.
Government data in recent years has shown record growth in defence exports, driven by indigenous missile systems, artillery platforms, naval equipment and surveillance technologies, as New Delhi pushes to establish itself among the world’s leading defence producers.
