Billionaire Gautam Adani’s conglomerate, Adani Defence & Aerospace, has commenced operations at two state-of-the-art defence facilities in northern India. Representing a significant investment of $362 million, these facilities mark a substantial stride towards bolstering India’s self-reliance in defence production and promoting local manufacturing.
Spanning across 500 acres in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, these facilities are poised to play a pivotal role in India’s defence ecosystem. Karan Adani, the son of the founder and overseeing the budding defence business, elaborated on the capabilities of these factories during the inauguration ceremony held on Monday.
‘These factories will be instrumental in producing small, medium, and large caliber ammunition, catering to the needs of the armed forces, paramilitary forces, and police,’ stated Karan Adani, Chief Executive Director of Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd. ‘With an annual production capacity of 150 million rounds, we aim to meet approximately a quarter of India’s ammunition requirements.’
India’s Prime Minister, has consistently emphasized the need to boost indigenous manufacturing and reduce dependency on imports. This initiative by Adani Defence & Aerospace aligns with these goals, presenting significant business opportunities for India’s leading conglomerates, including the Adani Group, Tata Group, Larsen & Toubro Ltd., and Mahindra Group.
India’s heavy reliance on imports for defence needs has not only restricted our strategic autonomy but also limited our economic potential, remarked Karan Adani.
Through these new facilities, we are not only enhancing our defence capabilities but also creating over 4,000 jobs, contributing to the growth of the local economy, he added.
Looking ahead, the manufacturing facility aims to ramp up production to meet evolving defence needs. By 2025, Adani Defence & Aerospace plans to produce 200,000 rounds annually of large caliber artillery and tank ammunition, followed by five million rounds of medium caliber ammunition by the subsequent year. Additionally, the facility will be equipped to manufacture short-range and long-range missiles.
In addition to ammunition production, Adani Defence & Aerospace already manufactures a range of defence equipment, including drones, anti-drone systems, light machine guns, assault rifles, and pistols. This diversification underscores the commitment to bolstering India’s defence capabilities across various sectors.
