Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday inaugurated a defence manufacturing complex of NIBE Group at Shirdi in Maharashtra's Ahilyanagar. The facility will produce advanced artillery systems, missile and space technologies, rocket systems, energetic materials, and autonomous defence platforms.
Flagging Off Suryastra
Along with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Singh flagged off India's first 300 km universal rocket launching system 'Suryastra', recently tested at the Chandipur integrated test centre off Odisha. He noted that the artillery shell plant will have an annual production capacity of 5 lakh shells.
Emphasis on Self-Reliance
Stressing the importance of self-reliance in ammunition production, Singh said this is the land of Shivaji, and inspired by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, India is building a “fortress of self-reliance” in the defence sector in Maharashtra. He expressed confidence that the complex will help fulfil operational requirements of defence forces and bolster the industrial ecosystem.
Singh stated that defence production, earlier largely confined to public sector units and ordnance factories, was opened to the private sector by his government. “We recognised the capabilities of the private sector as it can transform India into a global manufacturing hub,” he said.
Praise for NIBE Group
Praising NIBE Group CMD Ganesh Nibe, Singh said, “After seeing this facility, I can say with certainty that no power in the world can stop India from becoming the world's largest exporter in the defence sector in the next 25-30 years. Today, a golden chapter is being written in India's defence and space sectors.”
Foundations and MoUs
Singh also laid the foundation stone for a missile complex for the system and unveiled indigenous TNT plant technology, RDX plant technology, and renewable bio-energy compressed biogas plant. An MoU was exchanged between NIBE Group and US-based space intelligence and geospatial data company Black Sky for satellite assembly.
The minister said the plants are poised to become research-oriented hubs, further bolstering India's defence capabilities. He hoped the missile complex for the universal rocket launching system will provide a new direction to India's future warfare capabilities. “Powered by indigenous technology, this rocket system will multiply our strike capability manifold and prove to be a strategic game-changer,” he said.
Ecosystem and Private Sector Role
Singh appreciated that the complex will create a vast ecosystem for high-technology industries, MSMEs, small-scale industries, and the local economy. “There was a time when private sector contribution in defence production was negligible. It has now reached 25-30%. Our objective is to take this figure to 50% in the coming years. This is the new India where the private industry is not merely a supplier of nuts and bolts, but is emerging as the innovator and manufacturer of state-of-the-art weapon systems,” he said.
Future Warfare and Technology
Visiting the Shirdi temple, Singh emphasised that the outcome of future wars will be determined by advancements in munitions and automation, not force size. “Glimpses of this reality can be witnessed in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict and the West Asia situation. India demonstrated this capability during Operation Sindoor,” he said.
Calling for concerted efforts to transform India into a global hub for munitions and automation, Singh said, “We stand ready to take every necessary step to ensure that India emerges as a frontrunner in munitions and automated systems.”
He underlined that technology's fundamental objective is to augment soldiers' capabilities, not diminish them, and final decisions must remain in human hands. Modern weaponry and automated systems are playing an increasingly significant role in future warfare, and it is imperative for India to advance in this direction. “Let us collectively pledge to make India completely self-reliant in defence and space technology,” he said, urging defence companies to enhance India's capabilities for wars of the future. He asserted that 'security' and 'economy' can no longer be viewed in isolation, as a robust economy serves as the bedrock for a strong military and modern defence capabilities.
