Private defence suppliers have requested the Defence Ministry (MoD) to review defence procurement manual (DPM) which restricts supply of ammunition only from public sector manufacturers, saying that they are capable of fulfilling the munitions requirement of the defence forces.
A private defence manufacturer said that if the MoD amended the existing rule to allow for open Request For Proposal (RFP) to be issued to both public and private sector, it would provide a big boost to the ammunition industry and allow private sector players, who had invested hugely to join the Make In India initiative, to supply ammunition to India’s Armed Forces.
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“We had a meeting where we have given presentation over the concern and the MoD assured that the proposal is under review by the MoD and Department of Military Affairs,” said a top official of a private defence manufacturer.
Adani Defence and Aerospace ammunition manufacturing facility in Kanpur, under Uttar Pradesh defence corridor, is already rolling out 150 million rounds of small calibre ammunition of — 5.56 mm (used majorly in Insas rifles), 7.62 mm (7.62x39 mm cartridge which is used in AK-47 and AK-203 rifles and 7.62x51 mm NATO round which is used in self-loading rifles (SLR) and machine guns), .338 mm (sniper rifles) and 9 mm (pistols).
