Shirdi

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday inaugurated a new defence manufacturing facility of the NIBE Group in Shirdi, Maharashtra, marking a major step in India’s push for self-reliance in the defence sector.

After inaugurating the facility, Rajnath Singh visited the Sai Baba temple in Shirdi and offered prayers. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis accompanied him during the visit to the manufacturing unit, where the Defence Minister also flagged off the Suryastra Rocket Launcher System.

Addressing the gathering at the event, Rajnath Singh said Maharashtra, the land of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, is now emerging as a strong centre of defence self-reliance inspired by the Maratha ruler’s legacy.

Commending NIBE Group Chairman and Managing Director Ganesh Nibe, the Defence Minister said the facility reinforced his belief that India possesses immense talent and capability in advanced defence manufacturing.

He expressed confidence that India could become one of the world’s leading defence exporters within the next 25 to 30 years. According to him, the country is currently witnessing a defining phase in both the defence and space sectors.

Singh described the launch of the facility as significant on several fronts. He noted that an artillery shell manufacturing plant with a yearly production capacity of five lakh shells had been inaugurated, while the foundation stone for a missile complex linked to the Universal Rocket Launching System had also been laid. In addition, an agreement related to satellite technology had been signed with Black Sky, and a 15-tonne capacity biogas plant had been established at the site.

The Defence Minister said India had a strong legacy in defence manufacturing even before Independence. Referring to the colonial period, he stated that the British not only extracted commodities such as tea and spices from India but also sourced potassium nitrate, an important component used in the production of gunpowder.

Highlighting the importance of private sector participation in achieving the goal of an Atmanirbhar Bharat, Singh said the government had undertaken major policy reforms and liberalised foreign direct investment norms in the defence sector.

He added that the government had prepared a positive indigenisation list containing more than 5,000 items that would now be prioritised for domestic manufacturing. According to him, a country that builds its own weapons gains the ability to shape its own future and history.

Singh stated that the private sector’s contribution to defence manufacturing has already reached nearly 30 per cent and that the government aims to raise this share to 50 per cent in the future.

He emphasised that private companies are no longer limited to supplying basic components but are now developing advanced weapons and innovative defence technologies. He added that several foreign firms are increasingly interested in collaborating with India and transferring technology, reflecting growing confidence in the country’s defence ecosystem.

Referring to the Suryastra Rocket Launcher System produced at the facility, the Defence Minister remarked that the weapon system would be capable of neutralising hostile intentions effectively.

Speaking about future warfare, Singh said modern conflicts would increasingly depend on automation, advanced technology and sophisticated munitions rather than merely the size of military forces. He pointed to ongoing global conflicts and India’s own experience during Operation Sindoor as examples of the changing nature of warfare.

He stressed that automation has become essential because it is not always possible to deploy soldiers across every battlefield scenario.

Calling for collective efforts, Singh said India should aim to emerge as a global hub for munitions and automation technologies while further strengthening the “Make in India” initiative in critical defence systems and advanced technologies.

Invoking the legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the Defence Minister said the Maratha ruler built weapons using local resources, and India is now following a similar path by creating a strong foundation for defence self-reliance in Maharashtra.

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“How can the land of Shivaji remain behind in defence?” Singh said, while urging greater participation from private industry in strengthening India’s defence manufacturing capabilities.