Kanpur Manufacturing Hub Powers Adani Defence’s Record‑Breaking Export Growth

New Delhi – On 10 October, the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM) presented Adani Defence and Aerospace with the 2026 Champion Award for export performance, citing the strategic output of its Kanpur manufacturing complex.

The ceremony, attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh and Director General (Acquisition) A. Anbarasu, also featured fifteen ancillary awards that honoured advancements in technology development, product innovation, design, import substitution, manufacturing excellence and export achievements.

Located in Uttar Pradesh’s industrial city of Kanpur, the plant boasts an annual capacity of 300 million ammunition rounds, all manufactured to NATO specifications. This scale directly supports India’s ‘Self‑Reliant India’ agenda by supplying domestically produced ordnance for the armed forces.

During his address, the Defence Minister emphasised the necessity of expanding private‑sector participation, boosting research and development investment and scaling up indigenous production capabilities to meet the country’s defence needs.

Ashish Rajvanshi, Chief Executive Officer of Adani Defence, highlighted that the award validates the company’s focus on high‑quality, made‑in‑India products and its ambition to serve global markets. He reaffirmed ongoing commitments to indigenous technology development and modern manufacturing.

The 2026 recognition follows a previous SIDM Champion Award granted in 2025 for the same Kanpur Ammunition Complex’s excellence in design, manufacturing and testing.

Key to the plant’s performance are fully automated production lines, AI‑driven quality inspection, real‑time data analytics and a digital monitoring system that eliminates manual handling of hazardous materials. A comprehensive digital traceability solution ensures 100 % visibility of each product and process across the supply chain.

The facility also houses a cutting‑edge ballistic test range equipped with electronic pressure, velocity and action‑time measurement systems, certified by the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL).

India’s defence exports surged to a record ₹38,424 crore in FY 2025‑26, a 62.66 % rise over the previous year, with a government target of ₹50,000 crore in annual exports by FY 2029.