Rheinmetall to Help India Produce 200,000 Artillery Shells Annually

Indian defense company Reliance Defence & Engineering Limited has entered into a strategic partnership with Germany’s Rheinmetall AG to strengthen collaboration in ammunition production.

According to a Rheinmetall AG’s press release, the partnership will see Reliance Defence & Engineering Limited supplying explosives and rocket propellants for medium- and large-caliber ammunition, marking a significant step forward in bilateral defense cooperation.

In addition, the companies plan to undertake joint marketing activities for specific products and aim to further expand their partnership.

To support this initiative, Reliance Defence & Engineering Limited will establish a manufacturing facility in the Vatad industrial zone in Maharashtra.

Planned to be one of the largest of its kind in South Asia, the facility will boast an impressive annual capacity of up to 200,000 artillery shells, 10,000 tonnes of explosives, and 2,000 tonnes of rocket propellant.

This strategic collaboration not only grants Rheinmetall enhanced access to critical raw materials, but also reinforces supply chain resilience and paves the way for new growth opportunities.

Rheinmetall AG Expands Production

It was recently revealed that Rheinmetall AG, in partnership with U.S. company Lockheed Martin, plans to launch large-scale production of ATACMS and Patriot PAC-3 missiles in Europe.

As Rheinmetall’s CEO Armin Papperger explained, negotiations are currently underway to create a joint venture, in which his company intends to acquire a 60-percent stake.

The reason for this decision is the lack of production capacity in the United States to meet European demand. Therefore, both partners aim to create a European “Center of Competence” for the missiles.

In early May, it was announced that the companies had signed a memorandum outlining the creation of a European center of competence for the production and distribution of missiles and missile systems, aimed at strengthening the security and independence of Europe.

The possible candidates for production listed the ATACMS, GMLRS/GMLRS-ER, Hellfire, JAGM, and PAC-3 missiles.