Overview

• Reliance Defence Ltd has signed a strategic partnership with Germany's Rheinmetall AG to manufacture and supply ammunition, including artillery shells, explosives, and propellants.
• A greenfield manufacturing complex will be built in Ratnagiri, Maharashtra, with an annual capacity of 200,000 artillery shells, 10,000 tonnes of explosives, and 2,000 tonnes of propellants.
• This partnership is Reliance Defence's third major defence collaboration, following agreements with Dassault Aviation and Thales Group.
• The project aligns with India's 'Make in India' and 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' initiatives, aiming to bolster domestic defence production and achieve Rs 50,000 crore in defence exports by 2029.
• Despite Rheinmetall's ongoing blacklisting by India's Ministry of Defence, the collaboration reflects nuanced enforcement of the ban and focuses on export markets and supply chain growth.