Reliance Infrastructure has announced plans to invest ₹10,000 crore over the next decade to establish an integrated facility for manufacturing explosives, ammunition, and small arms in Ratnagiri, Maharashtra. The facility, located within the Dhirubhai Ambani Defence City (DADC), will occupy 1,000 acres in the Watad industrial area and primarily target export markets, according to a company press release.
The project aims to expand Reliance’s defense manufacturing operations through partnerships with up to six international defense companies. The company has not yet disclosed the names of these partners. Once operational, the facility is expected to produce a wide range of ammunition, including small, medium, and large-caliber munitions, as well as advanced terminally guided munitions (TGM). The production of small arms will cater to both civilian and military sectors, with a focus on exports.
Reliance Infrastructure has prior experience in defense manufacturing, with subsidiaries Jai Armaments and Reliance Defence holding government licenses for arms and ammunition production. These subsidiaries have already exported defense equipment valued at over ₹1,000 crore. Additionally, the company’s ongoing joint ventures with Dassault Aviation and Thales at MIHAN in Nagpur support defense production for export markets.
The planned Ratnagiri facility aligns with India’s broader defense manufacturing goals, aiming to increase domestic production and export capabilities in line with the government’s “Make in India” initiative for the defense sector.