India's new defence complex in Shirdi marks a leap toward self-reliance

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has inaugurated Nibe Group’s new Defence Manufacturing Complex and Artillery Shell Production Project in Shirdi. The facility, now operational, marks a major step in India’s push for self-reliance in defence production. Singh called the development a 'golden chapter' for the country’s military manufacturing ambitions. The newly opened complex includes India’s largest private-sector artillery shell factory. With an annual capacity of nearly five lakh units, it aims to boost domestic ammunition production. Singh stressed that future conflicts would depend on technological edge and advanced weaponry rather than sheer troop numbers.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced that the state’s defence corridor was nearing completion. He also highlighted the success of India’s indigenous defence technologies, proven during Operation Sindoor. Meanwhile, Nibe Group Chairman Ganesh Ramesh Nibe described the inauguration as a historic milestone for the nation’s self-reliance mission. Chief of Defence Staff Anil Chauhan noted that India’s defence strategy had evolved into a 'whole-of-nation approach'. He warned that future battlefields would extend beyond physical borders into cyberspace and data ecosystems. Singh further praised the private sector’s expanding role in strengthening India’s defence capabilities. The government has set an ambitious target: to make India the world’s top defence exporter within the next 20 to 25 years.

The Shirdi facility now stands as a key asset in India’s defence manufacturing growth. Its production capacity and advanced capabilities align with the country’s long-term export goals. Officials have reiterated that technological innovation and private-sector partnerships will remain central to this strategy.