Reliance Infrastructure confirms its proposals to set up an integrated project on production of explosives, ammunition and small arms in Ratnagiri, Maharashtra. The plan will require investing over ₹10,000 crore for the next ten years in this area; it shall be a key expansion within the defense domain. 

The project will be called Dhirubhai Ambani defense City, DADC. It will occupy 100 acres in the Watad Industrial Area of Ratnagiri. It brings Reliance to the vanguard in enhancing the Indian indigenous capability and heightens its footprint in the international defense supply chain. 

In that regard, Reliance Infrastructure also made the joint ventures with the core defense companies like Dassault Aviation and Thales of France at Multi-Modal International Cargo Hub and Airport at Nagpur, or MIHAN. 

The collaboration is done at Dassault Reliance Aerospace Ltd (DRAL) and Thales Reliance defense Systems (TRDS), with 100% export production. Thereby, this further encourages exports of Indian defense machinery. 

The defense equipment export by the subsidiaries of Reliance Infrastructure has crossed the mark of ₹1,000 crore. Jai Armaments Ltd and Reliance Defense Ltd are two wholly owned subsidiaries that hold licenses from the Government of India to manufacture arms and ammunition. Six major international defense companies might be sought for joint ventures in the new projects. Manufacturing capabilities to be made available under DADC include: small, medium and large caliber ammunition, to Terminally Guided Munition (TGM). This portfolio for small arms has been designed to reach into both the civil and military export markets. 

This will be in line with the effort of the Indian government to enhance domestic defense production and reduce dependence on imports. The entry of Reliance Infrastructure into this domain will not only create new employment opportunities but also establish the company as a key player in the defense manufacturing domain. 

It is a very ambitious project from the side of Reliance Infrastructure, and developments therein should be followed with the keenest of eye from stakeholders and investors toward the probable impacts on Indian defense manufacturing and its potential contribution toward national security objectives.