India’s defense manufacturing sector is poised for a significant advancement as SAI Ammunition India Limited (MIL), in partnership with Economic Explosives, a division of Reliance Infrastructure, gears up for final user trials of indigenously developed 155mm artillery shells scheduled for November 2025. This initiative is pivotal in India’s quest for self-reliance in high-end defense technologies.
The upcoming trials will evaluate a variety of advanced 155mm shell variants, which include High Explosive (HE), Smoke, and the Dual-Purpose Improved Conventional Munition (DPICM) rounds. Military analysts are particularly keen on the DPICM variant, noted for its battlefield effectiveness, reportedly requiring an average of just 1.7 shells to neutralize a target—making it significantly more efficient than traditional HE rounds.
These new artillery shells boast innovative features such as fin stabilization, canard control, and a sophisticated three-mode fuse that enables delayed detonation, height of burst, and point impact explosions. Their range capabilities extend from 8 to 38 kilometers, with enhanced guidance provided by India’s NavIC satellite navigation system, which is additionally supported by GPS. These precision advancements are expected to improve strike accuracy while minimizing collateral damage during high-intensity conflict engagements.
The technological progression is rooted in a broader strategic partnership between Reliance Defence and Germany’s Rheinmetall AG. Reliance is actively developing the Dhirubhai Ambani Defence City (DADC) in Ratnagiri, Maharashtra. This state-of-the-art facility is projected to become one of the largest of its kind in South Asia, with an anticipated production capacity of 200,000 artillery shells, 10,000 tons of explosives, and 2,000 tons of propellants annually.
This initiative also exemplifies the rising prominence of Munitions India Limited, established following the 2021 overhaul of the Ordnance Factory Board. MIL has been instrumental in supplying ammunition to both India’s armed forces and international clients. In 2024, the firm secured a landmark $225 million agreement with Saudi Arabia for artillery ammunition, highlighting India’s expanding presence within the global arms market. Unverified reports have even indicated that Indian-made HE ERFB BT shells may have been utilized in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
These developments align with the Defence Research and Development Organisation’s (DRDO) strategic vision aimed at reducing import dependency while enhancing domestic capabilities across critical defense sectors. The synergistic collaboration between state entities, private industries, and international partners is anticipated to fuel innovation and increase India’s competitiveness in global defense exports. The successful induction of indigenous 155mm shells may represent a transformative moment for India as it strives to establish itself as a formidable player in defense manufacturing.
