According to defense officials, the Indian Army has made significant strides in indigenizing its ammunition procurement, reducing imports to less than 10 percent of its budget. Previously, imports constituted around 40 percent of the budget, but with the advent of indigenous options, this figure has dramatically decreased.
With a budget of approximately Rs 20,000 crores allocated for ammunition procurement, the Army has leveraged the Make in India policy to foster domestic production capabilities. This shift has been facilitated by the development of indigenous industries, both in the private sector and existing public sector firms.
As a result, the Army is now able to source multiple types of ammunition domestically, spanning tanks, artillery guns, rocket launchers, multiple grenade launchers, multi-barrel rocket launchers, and more. The burgeoning capabilities of the domestic industry have paved the way for increased reliance on indigenous sources.
Looking ahead, the Army aims to cease imports of all ammunition types in the coming years, except for a select few that may not be commercially viable to produce domestically. This strategic move reflects the growing confidence in the indigenous defense sector and underscores the commitment to self-reliance in defense production.
