Nagpur’s Solar Defence Builds ₹15,000 Crore Defence Order Book

Nagpur-based Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited has emerged as one of India’s fastest-growing private defence firms, with an order book valued at nearly ₹15,000 crore (about $1.7 billion). The milestone reflects not only the company’s expansion but also the growing role of private players in India’s defence manufacturing ecosystem under the government’s Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.

A major portion of the order book comes from the Pinaka rocket system, for which Solar Defence has won a landmark contract worth over ₹6,000 crore. The company has also bagged significant orders for explosives, artillery shells, loitering munitions, and UAV systems, positioning itself as a comprehensive defence supplier. Recent deals include a contract for the Nagastra-1R loitering munition, capable of precision strikes during both day and night operations, as well as export orders worth more than ₹2,000 crore spread across multiple years.

To meet this demand, Solar Defence is rapidly expanding its manufacturing footprint. The company has acquired around 220 acres in the Mihan SEZ near Nagpur, where it plans to invest over ₹12,000 crore in new facilities for rockets, UAVs, and transport aircraft production. These projects are expected to generate thousands of jobs and transform the city into a growing hub for defence and aerospace activities. Alongside domestic expansion, Solar has also established a global presence, with operations in Thailand and a new plant in Kazakhstan, enabling it to tap into international defence markets.

The strategic importance of Solar’s order book lies in its diversified portfolio. From guided rockets to advanced UAVs, the company is moving beyond explosives and ammunition into high-value, technology-intensive defence systems. This diversification ensures that Solar is not only supporting the Indian armed forces’ modernisation drive but also contributing to the country’s push for defence exports.

Analysts note that the ₹15,000 crore pipeline gives the company strong revenue visibility for several years, while also boosting Nagpur’s status as a growing defence-industrial hub. The rise of Solar Defence underscores a larger shift in India’s security ecosystem, where private players are increasingly stepping in to supplement traditional state-run defence enterprises.

With demand for precision munitions, rockets, and unmanned systems rising globally, Solar Defence’s expanding role signals that India’s defence industry is entering a new phase—one marked by greater self-reliance, technological ambition, and international competitiveness.