Adani Defence and Aerospace plans to double its small-calibre ammunition production capacity to 300 million rounds annually by December 2025, up from the current 150 million rounds. The expansion is underway at its fully automated 500-acre facility in Kanpur, part of the Uttar Pradesh Defence Corridor.
The company is also increasing production of medium- and large-calibre ammunition for the Indian armed forces, central armed police forces, and state police units. The Kanpur plant began operations in April 2024 and commenced exports of NATO-standard 7.62 x 51mm and 5.56 x 45mm rounds by June 2024.
The facility produces a variety of small-calibre rounds, including 5.56mm for INSAS rifles, 7.62mm for AK-47 and AK-203 rifles, 7.62 x 51mm NATO cartridges for self-loading rifles and machine guns, .338 sniper rounds, and 9mm pistol ammunition.
Adani also plans to commission a new facility adjacent to the Kanpur plant to manufacture up to 150,000 large-calibre rounds annually. According to Rajvanshi, this figure is comparable to the cumulative output of Munitions India Limited (MIL) over the past 75 years, although this claim has not been independently verified. The plant will include local production of 125mm armour-piercing fin-stabilised discarding sabot (APFSDS) anti-tank shells under a technology transfer agreement with Russia.
A separate line for medium-calibre ammunition is under development and is expected to be completed by Diwali 2025. The plant will produce 23mm, 30mm, and 40mm rounds used in infantry fighting vehicles, aircraft, naval platforms, and anti-aircraft systems.
To date, Adani Defence has delivered 41,000 light machine gun rounds to the Indian Army, central armed police forces, and state police units, including in Uttar Pradesh. It has also begun exporting ammunition to four countries.
To reduce reliance on imported components, Adani plans to localise the production of primers and propellants—two critical inputs in ammunition manufacturing. Rajvanshi noted that global propellant prices have risen from under USD 10 per kilogram in 2019 to around USD 50 in 2025.
The group intends to set up a facility with an annual capacity of 25,000 tonnes for propellant production within the next two years. The Kanpur plant currently achieves close to full indigenisation, with in-house processes covering the full value chain from brass strip to final assembly. At present, the only imported input is the primer, which the company aims to produce locally by 2027.
India currently manufactures around 90 percent of its ammunition domestically, with Munitions India Limited being the primary producer. The Indian government’s defence manufacturing policy emphasises reducing import dependence and fostering a self-reliant domestic industry.
Adani Defence and Aerospace, a division of the Adani Group, is involved in small arms, unmanned systems, missiles, and defence electronics. Its Kanpur facility serves as a key hub for its ammunition operations, catering to both domestic and international clients.