In a major stride for India’s defense manufacturing ambitions, Reliance Defence Ltd, a subsidiary of Reliance Infrastructure, has announced a strategic partnership with Germany’s Rheinmetall AG for the domestic production and global supply of ammunition. The agreement, formalized through a memorandum of understanding signed today, marks a crucial step under India’s “Make in India” and defense self-reliance initiatives.

As part of the collaboration, Reliance Defence will supply explosives and propellants for both medium- and large-caliber ammunition to Rheinmetall. The two companies also intend to jointly market selected products and explore further avenues of cooperation. To support this initiative, a greenfield manufacturing facility will be established in the Watad Industrial Area of Ratnagiri, Maharashtra. The facility, expected to be one of South Asia’s largest, will have the capacity to produce 200,000 artillery shells, 10,000 tons of explosives, and 2,000 tons of propellants annually.

Mukesh Ambani, Chairman of Reliance Group, hailed the partnership as a “transformational moment” for India’s defense sector and Reliance Infrastructure. He stated that the initiative aligns with the Indian government’s goal of reaching $5 billion in defense exports and achieving a $5 trillion economic output. The upcoming Ratnagiri facility will supply both domestic armed forces and international clients, aiming to make India a formidable player in the global defense market.

Armin Papperger, CEO of Rheinmetall AG, reinforced the company’s long-term commitment to India, describing the partnership as a reflection of trust in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership and India’s rapidly evolving defense industry.

The announcement arrives as India intensifies efforts to scale up its defense production capabilities. According to the Ministry of Defence, the country recorded its highest-ever defense exports of ₹21,083 crore in FY 2023–24, marking a 32.5% increase over the previous year. The government aims to achieve domestic defense manufacturing worth ₹3 lakh crore (around $35 billion) between 2025 and 2026.

However, the collaboration is not without controversy. Rheinmetall remains on a blacklist issued by India’s Ministry of Defence in 2012 over bribery allegations, although criminal charges were dismissed in 2017 due to insufficient evidence presented by the Central Bureau of Investigation. The blacklisting, which the company has challenged in Delhi High Court since 2012, has yet to be formally lifted, casting uncertainty over Rheinmetall’s operational legitimacy in India.

This development also highlights India’s nuanced position in global geopolitics. With ongoing conflicts such as the Russia-Ukraine war, the facility’s potential to supply ammunition to European markets could be seen as an indirect alignment with Ukraine’s defense needs, possibly complicating India’s long-standing strategic relationship with Russia. India has so far maintained a policy of strategic autonomy, with Prime Minister Modi recently offering to mediate between the warring nations.

The new Ratnagiri facility is part of a larger vision by Reliance Defence, which recently unveiled plans for the Dhirubhai Ambani Defence City (DADC)—a sprawling, integrated complex aimed at manufacturing a wide range of defense materials, from small arms to advanced explosives. The project is expected to generate employment and economic activity in Maharashtra, while reinforcing India’s push toward defense indigenization.

As India pursues defense modernization and a larger share of the global arms market, the Reliance-Rheinmetall partnership could be a game-changer. Yet, its long-term impact will hinge on resolving regulatory hurdles and balancing delicate geopolitical relationships.

President Droupadi Murmu conferred six Kirti Chakras, including four posthumously, and 33 Shaurya Chakras, including seven posthumously, during the Defence Investiture Ceremony 2025 held at Rashtrapati Bhawan. The awards recognized extraordinary courage and sacrifice by members of the Armed Forces, Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), and State/Union Territory Police personnel.

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The recipients were honoured for acts of gallantry during intense counter-terror and counter-insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir and the North-East, as well as high-risk rescue efforts, fire-fighting operations at sea, and actions against Left-Wing Extremists.

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Several Indian Army personnel received the prestigious Shaurya Chakra for neutralizing terrorists and recovering weapons during fierce encounters. Among them were Major (now Lt Col) Vijay Verma and Colonel Pawan Singh for their bravery during operations in 2022 and 2023, respectively. Commodore Sharad Sinsunwa of the Indian Navy was also awarded for leading successful anti-piracy operations that rescued hostages and ensured the safe recovery of a burning oil tanker.

Air Force personnel were recognized for risking their lives to maneuver aircraft away from civilian zones, preventing potential disasters. Wing Commander Vernon Desmond Keane and Squadron Leader Deepak Kumar were among the key Air Force honorees.

In a notable mention, Assistant Commandant Eshenthung Kikon from the Indian Army received the Shaurya Chakra for his courage during a high-risk mission in August 2024. His name was widely appreciated during the ceremony.

Among the posthumous awardees, Major Aashish Dhonchak and Sepoy Pardeep Singh were honoured for their ultimate sacrifice during counter-terror operations in September 2023. From the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), CT/GD Pawn Kumar and CT/GD Devan were posthumously awarded for their valour in anti-Maoist operations in January 2024.

Here is the full event:

The Kirti Chakra, India’s second-highest peacetime gallantry award, was conferred posthumously on Colonel Manpreet Singh, Rifleman Ravi Kumar, Naik Dilwar Khan, and Deputy Superintendent of Police Himayun Muzzammil Bhat. They laid down their lives during a joint operation in Jammu and Kashmir in September 2023.

Here is the full list of awardees:

Kirti Chakra (Posthumous)

Kirti Chakra (Non-Posthumous)

Shaurya Chakra (Posthumous)

Shaurya Chakra (Non-Posthumous)

This year’s investiture ceremony serves as a poignant reminder of the indomitable courage and unyielding spirit of India’s security forces. Their commitment to protecting the nation, often at the cost of their own lives, continues to inspire the nation.

General Anil Chauhan, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) of the Indian Armed Forces, visited the Headquarters of the Western Air Command (WAC) today for high-level operational discussions with Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra, the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C) of WAC. The visit underscored the Indian Armed Forces’ commitment to enhancing joint preparedness and synergized air operations in response to evolving security challenges along India’s western borders.

During the visit, General Chauhan interacted with the WAC team, commending their professionalism and pivotal role in the recently concluded Operation Sindoor. The operation, executed on May 8, 2025, was a significant demonstration of the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) capabilities, successfully neutralizing critical Pakistani air defense radars and military installations, including a key facility near Lahore, in a mere 23 minutes. The mission, which involved advanced electronic warfare tactics and indigenous technologies like the Akash missile system and Barak-8, was a response to escalating cross-border terror attacks and drone strikes by Pakistan on Indian cities such as Srinagar, Jammu, Amritsar, and Bhuj.

General Chauhan highlighted the IAF’s critical role in integrated operations, noting that Operation Sindoor marked a milestone in India’s defense capabilities. He emphasized the importance of “jointness and integration” among the Army, Navy, and Air Force, a strategic priority for the Indian military as it faces multifaceted threats from neighboring countries like Pakistan and China. The visit reaffirmed the armed forces’ focus on unified command structures and coherent operational planning across domains, including land, air, sea, space, and cyberspace.

Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra, who assumed the role of AOC-in-C of WAC on January 1, 2025, briefed the CDS on the command’s ongoing efforts to strengthen India’s airspace defense. Mishra, a seasoned fighter pilot with over 3,000 flying hours, has been instrumental in advancing the IAF’s operational readiness, drawing on his extensive experience in roles such as Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (Operations) and Commandant of the Aircraft and Systems Testing Establishment (ASTE).

The discussions also touched on the integration of air defense systems between the IAF and the Indian Army, a key step toward achieving operational synergy. Recent joint exercises like Exercise Kavach and upcoming tri-service formats of Vayu Shakti reflect the military’s commitment to coordinated responses, despite challenges in achieving full jointness, including historical resistance from the IAF due to differing operational priorities.

Operation Sindoor’s success has been attributed to the deployment of MiG-29K fighters, alongside advanced countermeasures like GPS spoofing, jamming, and EMP technologies, which effectively bypassed Pakistan’s Chinese-supplied air defense systems. The operation not only showcased India’s technological prowess but also highlighted the growing role of indigenous innovations, such as the “Indrajaal” drone dome developed by Hyderabad-based Grene Robotics, in countering modern threats like drone swarms.

General Chauhan’s visit comes at a time when India is intensifying efforts to bolster its defense capabilities, with a focus on self-reliance and inter-service collaboration. The CDS reiterated the government’s support for these initiatives, aligning with the broader vision of a unified military command structure to address contemporary security challenges.

In a landmark move aimed at reshaping India’s defence strategy, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh today unveiled a new book authored by Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan. Titled Ready, Relevant and Resurgent: A Blueprint for the Transformation of India’s Military, the book sets forth a comprehensive vision for modernizing the Indian Armed Forces to face the demands of 21st-century warfare.

The launch event, held in New Delhi, highlighted the government’s continued focus on military reform, jointness, and indigenization. In his address, Defence Minister Singh lauded General Chauhan’s detailed articulation of reforms needed for a unified and efficient defence structure, emphasizing the urgency of enhanced integration among the Army, Navy, and Air Force to counter modern-day threats.

The book delves into the fundamental pillars of military transformation—jointness, integration, and self-reliance—while aligning the armed forces with India’s larger national goal of becoming a developed country by 2047, known as Viksit Bharat. Through a collection of essays and insights, General Chauhan proposes a reformed Higher Defence Organisation and outlines actionable steps to boost operational synergy and strategic preparedness.

Serving as CDS since September 2022, General Chauhan brings decades of experience in operational command and strategic planning. He has consistently advocated for reforms such as integrated theatre commands, shared logistics infrastructure, and common communication platforms. His vision, presented in the book, seeks to balance operational excellence with the evolving security needs of a rapidly changing world.

The timing of the book’s release is significant, as India intensifies efforts under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative to reduce reliance on foreign defence imports and bolster indigenous defence production. It also comes in the wake of strategic-level guidance offered by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the 2023 Combined Commanders Conference, where he urged the forces to prepare for future security scenarios. Similarly, Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi’s recent push for a transformative roadmap toward a future-ready Army by 2047 finds strong resonance in the themes presented in the book.

The event saw participation from senior military leadership, defence scholars, and strategic analysts, who welcomed the publication as a timely and insightful contribution to India’s security discourse. Ready, Relevant and Resurgent is expected to serve as a reference point for policymakers and military planners as India works toward a technologically advanced, integrated, and resilient defence structure.