NEW DELHI — March 25, 2026 : Indian state-owned aerospace and defence manufacturer Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) has announced the establishment of two new manufacturing facilities at Ibrahimpatnam (Telangana) and Jhansi (Uttar Pradesh), as part of a broader capacity expansion plan aligned with the growing operational requirements of the Indian armed forces and the government’s self-reliance initiatives.
The two facilities are expected to be inaugurated shortly, with full-scale manufacturing operations scheduled to commence in the financial year 2026–27 (FY27). The expansion is supported by BDL’s current order book of approximately ₹26,000 crore, along with anticipated additional orders worth ₹15,000 crore expected during FY27.
Expansion to Support Production Scale-Up
The new units are being developed to augment BDL’s existing manufacturing network, which includes facilities in Hyderabad, Bhanur, Ibrahimpatnam (Telangana), and Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh). The expansion is intended to increase throughput across multiple missile and munitions programs while reducing dependence on external supply chains, particularly in propulsion and energetics.
Ibrahimpatnam Facility: Assembly and Advanced Testing
The Ibrahimpatnam unit, located near Hyderabad, is being configured as an integrated assembly and testing hub for advanced weapon systems.
The facility will house eight dedicated assembly lines designed to support both current and next-generation weapon systems. These lines are expected to enable scalable production in response to future procurement requirements.
In addition to assembly infrastructure, the site will incorporate specialized in-house testing capabilities, including a rocket motor testing facility and a warhead penetration testing facility. These are intended to validate performance parameters, ensure reliability, and improve production yield prior to deployment.
The facility is also positioned to support increased manufacturing of surface-to-air missile systems, including new-generation variants.
Jhansi Facility: Propellants, Energetics, and Rocket Production
The Jhansi facility, located within the Uttar Pradesh Defence Corridor, will focus on propulsion systems, chemical energetics, and bulk munitions production.
A primary function of the unit will be the manufacturing of missile and rocket propellants to meet BDL’s growing internal demand. This is expected to reduce reliance on external suppliers and strengthen supply chain integration.
The facility will also undertake bulk production of Grad rockets, which are standard artillery munitions used by the Indian armed forces.
In addition, the Jhansi unit will house a dedicated research and development (R&D) component focused on the development of advanced energetics. It will also support the production of propulsion systems for anti-tank guided missiles and future missile programs.
Increased Output of Key Weapon Systems
The operationalisation of the Ibrahimpatnam and Jhansi facilities is expected to significantly increase production volumes across BDL’s existing portfolio of missile systems and underwater weapons.
A key focus area is the Akash Weapon System, an indigenously developed, mobile, all-weather surface-to-air missile system capable of engaging aerial targets such as fighter aircraft, cruise missiles, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The system has a range of up to 30 km and can engage targets at altitudes of up to 18 km. It incorporates Electronic Counter-Counter Measures (ECCM) and is currently deployed by both the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force.
BDL has already increased monthly production of Akash missiles from 50 to 100 units to meet existing orders. Major contracts, including a ₹8,161 crore order signed in 2023 for two regiments of the Indian Army, have driven the requirement for further scaling up production. The new assembly lines at Ibrahimpatnam are expected to support this increased demand.
Broader Missile and Weapons Portfolio
In addition to the Akash system, the expanded manufacturing capacity will support a wide range of BDL-produced weapon systems across multiple domains.
These include surface-to-air missile systems such as the Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MRSAM), Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile (QRSAM), and Vertically Launched Short-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (VLSRSAM).
The company also manufactures the Astra beyond-visual-range (BVR) air-to-air missile for the Indian Air Force.
Its anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) portfolio includes systems such as MILAN 2T, Konkurs, Invar, and Helina (Dhruvastra), designed for heavy armor engagement.
BDL’s air-to-surface capabilities include the Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon (SAAW), while its underwater systems include the Advanced Lightweight Torpedo (TAL) and the Heavyweight Torpedo (Varunastra), both used by the Indian Navy for anti-submarine warfare.
Additional systems in production include Multi-Influential Ground Mines (MIGM), Counter Measures Dispensing Systems, and Grad rockets.
Alignment with Defence Industrial Policy
The establishment of the Jhansi facility within the Uttar Pradesh Defence Corridor aligns with ongoing government efforts to develop regional defence manufacturing hubs. The initiative is aimed at strengthening domestic industrial capacity, promoting indigenous design and production, and reducing import dependency in critical defence technologies.
The integration of propellant manufacturing, advanced energetics research, and in-house testing infrastructure across the two new facilities represents a step toward greater vertical integration within BDL’s production ecosystem.
With the addition of these facilities, Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) is expected to enhance its ability to meet current and future requirements of the Indian armed forces while supporting long-term objectives under the ‘Make in India’ framework.
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