Munitions India

Munitions India Limited, commonly abbreviated as MIL, is an Indian state-owned defence company headquartered in Pune. It was established in 2021 when the Government of India reorganised and corporatised the former Ordnance Factory Board into seven separate public-sector companies. Munitions India became the specialist entity responsible for the former board’s ammunition and explosives activities, while the other successor companies were assigned areas such as weapons and equipment, armoured vehicles, optics, troop-comfort products, gliders and industrial manufacturing. The company supplies the Indian Armed Forces with a broad range of ammunition and explosive ordnance. Its portfolio covers small-arms ammunition, medium- and large-calibre artillery rounds, mortar bombs, tank ammunition, air-to-ground weapons, rockets, grenades, naval mines and related explosive products. The business serves the Army, Navy and Air Force, and also has applications in domestic civilian markets where its explosive-manufacturing capabilities are relevant. Its products include 155 mm artillery ammunition, 130 mm and 125 mm rounds, 105 mm and 84 mm ammunition, 30 mm and other medium-calibre rounds, small-calibre cartridges, hand grenades, bombs, rockets and naval mines. MIL occupies a strategically important position in India’s defence-industrial policy. Ammunition availability and war reserves have been treated as major national-security priorities, particularly in the context of long-duration conflicts and efforts to reduce reliance on imports. During the 2020s, government allocations for the company increased as part of a programme to modernise production infrastructure, expand manufacturing capacity and establish additional lines for ammunition used by 30 mm and 40 mm grenade launchers. The referenced allocations were ₹577 crore for financial year 2023, ₹580 crore in the revised estimate for financial year 2024 and ₹745.45 crore for financial year 2025. The company has also expanded its export role. Reported customers and markets include the United Arab Emirates, Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, Armenia and European buyers. The UAE purchased Indian 155 mm artillery ammunition in 2017 and 2019, while MIL and Saudi Arabia’s Nadrah Company announced a reported artillery-ammunition agreement at the 2024 World Defense Show. In the 2023–24 financial year, exports were reported to represent approximately ₹2,000 crore of MIL’s roughly ₹7,000 crore in total business, although the company’s export contracts are scheduled for delivery over multiple years and individual figures should not be treated as equivalent to recognised annual revenue. The company also supplied explosives to Germany’s Rheinmetall in shipments made between October 2023 and March 2024. MIL is involved in research and development for more advanced artillery systems. Projects reported in cooperation with Indian Institutes of Technology and defence research organisations include a 155 mm smart artillery shell using navigation and terminal-control technologies, and a ramjet-assisted artillery projectile intended to extend the range of existing 155 mm systems. These programmes reflect the company’s wider transition from a conventional ordnance producer toward a more technologically capable defence manufacturer. Its present role combines domestic supply, export production, infrastructure modernisation and participation in India’s drive for greater self-reliance in military equipment.

Munitions India was formed in 2021 as part of the Government of India’s restructuring of the Ordnance Factory Board. The board had historically operated a large network of government ammunition and ordnance factories, but the corporatisation programme divided its functions among seven new public-sector undertakings. MIL was assigned the ammunition and explosives business, making it the successor organisation most directly associated with the production of military cartridges, artillery shells, rockets, bombs, grenades and related energetic materials. The new structure was intended to give the successor companies greater managerial and commercial autonomy while retaining government ownership and their strategic defence role. For MIL, the reorganisation created a single corporate vehicle covering a broad manufacturing base that had previously operated within the ordnance-factory system. Its principal domestic customers remained the Indian Armed Forces, while the company also pursued exports and industrial applications for explosives. MIL’s product base spans several levels of the ammunition market. Small-calibre output includes cartridges such as 5.56 mm, 7.62 mm, 9 mm and 14.5 mm ammunition. Medium-calibre products include rounds for infantry fighting vehicles and other weapons, including 30 mm ammunition. Large-calibre production includes 105 mm, 125 mm, 130 mm and 155 mm ammunition, with high-explosive, illuminating, smoke, armour-piercing and anti-tank variants among the reported types. The company also manufactures mortar bombs, hand grenades, air-to-ground bombs, air-to-ground rockets and naval mines. The company’s strategic importance grew as India sought to improve ammunition reserves and domestic production reliability. Government spending during the 2020s was directed toward modernising plant and equipment, increasing output and creating new production lines, including lines for 30 mm and 40 mm grenade-launcher ammunition. The reported allocation for MIL rose from ₹577 crore in financial year 2023 to ₹580 crore in the revised estimate for financial year 2024 and ₹745.45 crore for financial year 2025. These allocations were presented as part of a broader effort to support sustained military operations and reduce supply vulnerabilities during prolonged conflicts. Export activity became another important part of the company’s development. MIL’s reported foreign customers include the United Arab Emirates and Armenia, while Vietnam and at least one European customer were identified among more recent export markets. The UAE reportedly purchased 155 mm artillery ammunition in 2017 and 2019, before MIL’s formal creation, reflecting the export history of the predecessor ordnance-factory system. After corporatisation, the company continued expanding overseas sales. A reported agreement with Nadrah Company at the 2024 World Defense Show linked MIL to a proposed $225 million Saudi artillery-ammunition supply arrangement. MIL also exported explosives to Rheinmetall in Germany in a sequence of shipments from late 2023 to early 2024. The company has increasingly participated in development programmes intended to improve the performance of conventional artillery. In cooperation with IIT Madras and other research partners, it has been associated with a 155 mm smart ammunition project designed to reduce the dispersion of artillery rounds by adding navigation, guidance and control components. The proposed projectile is intended to work with several Indian 155 mm gun systems and to use NavIC with GPS support. Another reported programme involves adapting ramjet propulsion to a 155 mm artillery projectile, with the objective of extending the range of existing guns while retaining compatibility with established platforms. These programmes remain development activities rather than evidence that all proposed systems have entered regular service. Munitions India therefore combines the traditional role of a government ordnance producer with the commercial and technological ambitions of a modern defence public-sector company. Its business is centred on assured supply to India’s armed forces, expansion of production infrastructure, selective international sales and collaboration on more accurate and longer-range ammunition.

• 2025

  Reported allocation reaches ₹745.45 crore

  [1]Munitions Indiaen.wikipedia.org

  The reported financial year 2025 allocation was the highest among the seven successor defence public-sector companies and was linked to expanded ammunition capacity.

• 2024

  Smart 155 mm artillery ammunition programme reported

  [1]Munitions Indiaen.wikipedia.org

  MIL and IIT Madras were reported to be developing a guided 155 mm shell with navigation, control and multi-mode fuze functions.

• 2024

  Reported Saudi artillery-ammunition agreement

  [1]Munitions Indiaen.wikipedia.org

  MIL and Nadrah Company reportedly signed a $225 million agreement at the World Defense Show for artillery-ammunition supply to Saudi Arabia.

• 2023

  Modernisation allocation reported at ₹577 crore

  [1]Munitions Indiaen.wikipedia.org

  The reported government allocation for MIL in financial year 2023 supported infrastructure and production modernisation.

• 2023

  First reported Rheinmetall explosive shipment

  [1]Munitions Indiaen.wikipedia.org

  An initial shipment of approximately 144 tonnes of explosive to Germany’s Rheinmetall was reported in October 2023.

• 2021

  Munitions India established

  [1]Munitions Indiaen.wikipedia.org

  The company was created as one of seven public-sector undertakings formed through the corporatisation and division of the Ordnance Factory Board.

A state-owned Indian defence and strategic-manufacturing company focused on large-scale ammunition and explosives production for the Indian armed forces, overseas military customers and selected domestic users.

• Large-calibre artillery ammunition

  155 mm artillery ammunition

  MIL’s reported 155 mm portfolio includes high-explosive M-107 rounds, extended-range full-bore boat-tail shells, illuminating ammunition and screening-smoke rounds. These products are intended for India’s modern artillery fleet and are associated with platforms such as Dhanush, ATAGS and K9 Vajra-T. The company has also been linked to export deliveries of 155 mm ammunition to overseas customers.

• Large-calibre ammunition

  Tank and armoured-vehicle ammunition

  The reported portfolio includes 125 mm high-explosive and high-explosive anti-tank rounds, 130 mm high-explosive ammunition and FSAPDS ammunition. These products support India’s armoured and artillery forces and form part of MIL’s role as a full-spectrum ammunition producer rather than a small-arms specialist.

• Vehicle and weapon ammunition

  Medium-calibre ammunition

  MIL produces reported 84 mm ammunition in high-explosive, smoke and illuminating variants, along with 30 mm rounds for BMP-II systems. The 30 mm range includes high-explosive incendiary, armour-piercing tracer and high-explosive tracer types.

• Small-arms ammunition

  Small-calibre ammunition

  The company’s small-calibre range is reported to include 20 mm rounds for anti-materiel rifles, 14.5×114 mm ammunition, 7.62×51 mm, 7.62×54 mmR, 5.56×45 mm and 9×19 mm cartridges. These products support infantry weapons, machine guns and specialised military systems.

• Indirect-fire ammunition

  Mortar bombs

  MIL is reported to manufacture mortar bombs in 81 mm and 51 mm calibres. Such ammunition provides infantry and artillery units with short- and medium-range indirect-fire capability and complements the company’s larger artillery portfolio.

• Rocket artillery ammunition

  Pinaka rocket ammunition

  Pinaka multiple-launch rocket ammunition is listed among MIL’s notable products. The company’s role concerns the ammunition rather than the complete launcher system, placing it within India’s indigenous rocket-artillery supply chain.

• Infantry munitions

  Hand grenades

  The company manufactures hand grenades for military use, including the Shivalik Multi-Mode Hand Grenade. The multi-mode design is identified as a notable offering in MIL’s infantry-munitions portfolio.

• Air-launched ordnance

  Air-to-ground bombs and rockets

  Reported air-launched products include 1,000 lb high-explosive and thermobaric bombs and 68 mm air-to-ground rockets in high-explosive, high-capacity and training configurations. These products extend MIL’s manufacturing scope beyond ground-force ammunition.

• Naval ordnance

  Naval mines

  Maindeka naval mines are listed among MIL’s notable products. Their inclusion reflects the company’s supply role across multiple Indian military services, including naval requirements.

• Guided artillery ammunition · 2024

  155 mm smart artillery shell

  Reportedly under development with IIT Madras, this projectile is intended to improve artillery accuracy through miniaturised electronics, sensors, navigation and guidance-control functions. The concept includes NavIC navigation with GPS support, fin stabilisation, canard control and delayed, height-of-burst and point-detonation modes. It is intended for several Indian 155 mm gun systems.

• Extended-range artillery ammunition · 2020

  Ramjet-propelled 155 mm artillery shell

  A reported development programme involving IIT Madras, IIT Kanpur and Indian defence research organisations seeks to adapt ramjet propulsion to an existing 155 mm shell. The objective is to extend range while maintaining compatibility with platforms including FH77, Dhanush, K9 Vajra-T and ATAGS. The programme has been described as developmental and should not be treated as a confirmed mass-production product.

• 2024

  Development partnership for 155 mm smart ammunitionProduct launch

  Background

  Conventional artillery rounds have substantially lower precision than guided ammunition, creating demand for improved terminal accuracy and lethality.

  Action taken

  MIL and IIT Madras began a reported development programme for a guided 155 mm shell compatible with multiple Indian artillery platforms.

  Aftermath

  The programme remained under development, with the proposed design incorporating navigation, guidance, control and multiple fuze modes.

  Source

• 2024

  Reported Saudi artillery-ammunition agreementOther

  Background

  MIL was seeking to broaden its international customer base and use its artillery-ammunition production capability in export markets.

  Action taken

  MIL and Nadrah Company reportedly entered an agreement at the World Defense Show 2024 for artillery-ammunition supply to Saudi Arabia.

  Aftermath

  The reported agreement reinforced MIL’s position as an exporter of large-calibre ammunition, although detailed delivery and revenue recognition information is not provided here.

  Reported agreement value. $225 million (2024)

  Source

• 2023

  Production modernisation and capacity expansionStrategy

  Background

  India identified ammunition reserves, manufacturing capacity and supply resilience as important defence priorities.

  Action taken

  Government funding was directed toward modernising equipment, raising output and adding production lines, including lines associated with 30 mm and 40 mm grenade-launcher ammunition.

  Aftermath

  Reported allocations increased through the 2020s, reaching ₹745.45 crore for financial year 2025.

  Government budget allocation. ₹577 crore in FY2023 → ₹745.45 crore in FY2025 (FY2023 to FY2025)

  Source

• 2021

  Separate ammunition-focused public-sector company createdStrategy

  Background

  The Government of India restructured the Ordnance Factory Board to create specialised corporate entities with distinct product responsibilities.

  Action taken

  Munitions India was established to consolidate the former board’s ammunition and explosives activities in a dedicated state-owned enterprise.

  Aftermath

  The company became a principal government supplier of ammunition and explosives and a vehicle for commercial exports and production modernisation.

  Source

1. 1Munitions Indiaen.wikipedia.org