Adani Defence Becomes First Private Indian Firm to Clear Desert Trials for 155 mm Artillery Ammunition

In a landmark achievement for India’s private defence industry, Adani Defence & Aerospace (often referred to as Adani Defence) has become the first private Indian company to successfully clear the Ministry of Defence’s desert trials for 155 mm artillery ammunition . This milestone underscores the growing role of indigenous private players in meeting both domestic and global defence needs.

Desert Trials Milestone

The clearance of the desert trials marks formal acceptance that Adani’s 155 mm shells can reliably operate under extreme heat, dust, and terrain conditions typical of desert environments— a critical validation for deployment across India’s western borders and export markets .

Production Infrastructure & Capacity

Adani’s ammunition manufacturing is centered at its Kanpur-based facility, located within the Uttar Pradesh Defence Corridor. This expansive complex, established in early 2024, spans 500 acres and is designed to deliver on India’s ammunition shortfalls and export ambitions .

• Small‑calibre ammunition: Currently capable of producing 150 million rounds per year (e.g. 5.56 × 45 mm, 7.62 × 51 mm, 9 × 19 mm), with plans to double output to 300 million annually by end‑2025 .

• 155 mm artillery shells: Production has commenced with an initial annual capacity of about 150,000 rounds. Notably, 33% of this capacity is reserved for potential Indian armed forces orders, while export bookings have already been secured for the next five years.

Export Orders & Strategic Significance

Amid global ammunition shortages—fueled by conflicts such as in Ukraine—Adani Defence has already secured multi‑year export orders for both small arms and artillery munitions. Strong demand from international buyers has put India’s private defence output firmly on the export map .

At the same time, Adani maintains a strategic commitment to India’s defence readiness by reserving a third of shell capacity for domestic requirements.

Broader Context: India’s Artillery Modernisation

The desert trials clearance comes alongside the Indian Army’s accelerated shift towards 155 mm/52‑calibre artillery under its Field Artillery Rationalisation Plan. The Army plans to acquire over 1,200 towed gun systems, and trials for guns and their ammunition are expected throughout 2025 .

With Adani now clearing desert qualification, it joins a select group of suppliers—including DRDO-backed ATAGS, Bharat Forge, L&T, and Adani itself—for ammunition production aligned with Make‑in‑India objectives.

With desert trials clearance in hand, Adani Defence is poised to move toward operational deliveries for both domestic forces and export clients. Scaling up capacity further, especially for artillery shells, will likely support larger defence procurement deals in forthcoming years. As India expands its private defence manufacturing base, this breakthrough may encourage other private enterprises to follow suit—propelling the country toward greater self‑reliance in munitions.