Anil Ambani's Reliance Infra Becomes First Pvt Indian Company to Develop 155mm Ammo

Anil Ambani-run Reliance Infrastructure has become the first private Indian company to develop 155mm artillery ammunition, which is used in large, long-range ground-based guns.

The company has designed and developed four types of these advanced projectiles under a design-cum-production partner programme of Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE). ARDE is the Pune-based laboratory of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). This development is based on fully indigenous technology.

Reliance Infrastructure expects this newly developed artillery ammunition to fetch it orders from the Ministry of Defence as well as open up export opportunities. The company expects orders worth ₹10,000 crore from the Ministry of Defence in the next decade, as the indigenous ammunition can help it reduce import dependency. Additionally, the company will push for exports of these ammunitions, which can contribute an additional ₹10,000 crore in revenues over the next 10 years.

 A company spokesperson added that development work on all four projectiles has been completed. Ten Indian companies have been fully integrated in the supply chain and the production can start immediately.

The Indian Army is on a modernisation drive to convert all artillery guns to 155mm. 

In March, the Ministry of Defence had announced signing of contracts with Bharat Forge and Tata Advanced Systems (TASL) for the procurement of 155mm, 52-calibre Advanced Towed Artillery Gun Systems (ATAGS). The ATAGS was indigenously designed and developed by the ARDE in partnership with Bharat Forge and TASL.

The Economic Times had earlier reported that the Adani Group also plans to manufacture 155mm artillery shells starting this year and has already secured a large export order. 

In the first five months of 2026, the company has so far exported defence equipment worth ₹100 crore and is aiming to become among the top three exporters of defence hardware and services from India.

Signalling the growing strategic importance of ammunition within its defence portfolio, Reliance Infrastructure is setting up the Dhirubhai Ambani Defence City (DADC) in Ratnagiri, Maharashtra—a ₹5,000-crore greenfield complex for explosives and artillery ammunition production, targeting both Indian and global markets. 

Recently, Reliance Defence—a subsidiary of Reliance Infrastructure—also announced a strategic partnership with German firm Rheinmetall for production of ammunition. In order to support this collaboration, the company is setting up the manufacturing facility in Ratnagiri. 

The manufacturing facility will have an annual capacity to produce up to 2 lakh artillery shells, 10,000 tonne of explosives and 2,000 tonne of propellants. 

This comes amid the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), Mumbai, admitting insolvency plea against Reliance Infrastructure filed by IDBI Trusteeship Services. However, in a stock exchange filing on June 3, the company said it has made full payment of ₹92.68 crore to Dhursar Solar Power, towards claim of tariff as per the energy-purchase agreement with the company.  

Stating that the NCLT order has become “infructuous”, upon full payment having already been made, the company said it will appeal before the NCLAT and will seek withdrawal of the order dated May 30, 2025.