Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday emphasized that a nation capable of meeting its own requirements moves forward with the greatest confidence towards safeguarding its interests. He made the remark while performing the groundbreaking ceremony for a state-of-the-art 10,000-tonne aluminium extrusion press at Ordnance Factory Ambajhari in Nagpur, a unit of Yantra India Limited (YIL), alongside Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
Strategic Importance of the New Facility
Stressing that taking control of security-related necessities is imperative in the current geopolitical scenario to remain future-ready, Rajnath Singh said the new facility will support the manufacture of large and complex aluminium alloy profiles required for defence systems and platforms, aerospace and aviation structures, missile programmes, railways, transportation sectors, and other strategic industrial applications. The project will help reduce dependence on imports of critical aluminium extrusions and strengthen the domestic supply chain.
The minister asserted that the extrusion press symbolizes a shift in India's approach from relying on imports to producing critical goods domestically. He proposed that the press will be one of the most advanced facilities of its kind in the country. It will support the manufacture of large and complex aluminium alloy profiles needed for defence systems, aerospace structures, missile programmes, railways, transportation, and other strategic sectors. The project aims to reduce import reliance and strengthen the domestic supply chain while meeting future requirements through indigenous production.
Addressing Critical Needs
Rajnath Singh highlighted that modern fighter jets, missiles, and advanced space programmes require lightweight yet strong metals capable of withstanding extreme conditions. Such metals are produced through specialised processes, and superior quality metal serves well in every situation. He noted that the extrusion press addresses a crucial need in this regard.
Highlighting the significant role played by made-in-India equipment in the success of Operation Sindoor, the minister stressed the need to increase indigenous manufacturing of robust hardware to complement the bravery of defence forces personnel. He underlined that thousands of crucial components constitute the true strength of big machines, and the extrusion press will go a long way in making the nation self-reliant in this critical domain.
Evolving Warfare and Self-Reliance
Rajnath Singh said that while the nature of warfare is evolving and enemies are harder to detect, conventional warfare and its associated means remain as relevant as they were in 1947 and will retain much of the same relevance in 2047 as well. He emphasized that the importance of a strong military-industrial base will continue for a long time, and the extrusion press is a step towards fulfilling a major national need with future requirements in mind.
The minister highlighted that the government is marching ahead to realise Prime Minister Modi's vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat by simultaneously working on four key elements: technology, workforce, knowledge, and faith in the nation. He stated that the government's persistent efforts are yielding positive results, as domestic defence production, which stood at Rs 46,000 crore in 2014, has risen to a record Rs 1.78 lakh crore in Financial Year 2025-26.
Growth in Defence Exports
Rajnath Singh added that the nation was exporting arms and equipment worth less than Rs 1,000 crore in 2014, which has now skyrocketed to an all-time high of Rs 38,424 crore. He said, "This represents not just a rise in numbers, but a growth in India's capabilities. It signifies a boost in the nation's self-confidence. We are poised to achieve the targets we have set for the next 2-3 years - Rs 3 lakh crore defence production and Rs 50,000 crore defence exports ahead of schedule."
Recognition of YIL's Efforts
The minister acknowledged the efforts being made by YIL in making a significant contribution to advancing the goal of self-reliance. He stated that the corporatisation of the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) was carried out to make the system stronger and more agile in view of changing times and emerging technologies, and YIL is a result of that transformation. Post-corporatisation, the new entities enjoy sufficient operational autonomy and gain opportunities to excel in innovation, risk-taking, research, and exports. All the new DPSUs have successfully moved in that direction. OFB's production, which stood at Rs 12,755 crore in the pre-corporatisation year of FY 2019-20, has risen to Rs 26,282 crore in FY 2025-26. In defence exports, the figure stood at a mere Rs 81 crore prior to corporatisation and has now surged to Rs 4,561 crore, with YIL contributing Rs 397 crore.
