Adani Defence & Aerospace has received the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM) Champion Award 2026 for Export Performance in Defence and Aerospace, adding to a growing list of industry awards as India’s defence exports continue to rise.

The award was presented by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh during SIDM’s eighth annual session in New Delhi on October 9, 2026. Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh and Director General (Acquisition) A. Anbarasu were also present at the event.

The recognition comes as India seeks to increase domestic defence production, reduce reliance on imported equipment and sell more Indian-made products to overseas buyers. For Adani Defence & Aerospace, the award recognises its work in manufacturing small-calibre ammunition for defence and law enforcement customers in international markets.

The company’s ammunition complex in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, has an annual production capacity of 300 million rounds. It manufactures ammunition that meets North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) standards, serving overseas markets while supporting the government’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.

The award also comes at a time when the government is encouraging private companies to take a larger role in defence manufacturing. During the SIDM session, Rajnath Singh called for greater private sector participation, more spending on research and development, and higher manufacturing capacity to meet India’s defence needs.

Fifteen awards were presented at the session for work in areas including technology development, product innovation, design, import substitution, manufacturing excellence and exports.

Adani Defence & Aerospace chief executive officer Ashish Rajvanshi said the company would continue to invest in technology and domestic manufacturing.

“We are proud to see our efforts in building India’s defence manufacturing capabilities recognised. Our focus is on making high-quality products in India and taking them to customers across global markets. We will continue to invest in technology and indigenous manufacturing to meet the evolving needs of defence and security customers.”

The company’s Kanpur ammunition complex received a separate SIDM Champion Award in 2025 for design, manufacturing and testing excellence. The latest award recognises its export performance at a time when the government is seeking greater overseas sales of Indian-made defence products.

The Kanpur facility uses automated production systems, artificial intelligence (AI)-based quality checks, real-time data analysis and digital monitoring. According to the company, its digital shopfloor removes the need for manual handling of hazardous materials during the relevant production processes.

The plant also maintains digital records that allow products to be traced through every stage of the manufacturing chain. The company says it has 100 per cent digital traceability across its manufacturing value chain, supported by digital security systems.

Quality testing forms another part of the facility’s operations. The complex houses a ballistics testing range fitted with an Electronic Pressure, Velocity and Action Time (EPVAT) system. This equipment is used to measure key performance and safety characteristics of ammunition.

The testing range is accredited by the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL), India’s national body for accrediting testing and calibration laboratories. Such testing helps manufacturers check whether products meet the required technical standards before they reach customers.

The facility’s annual capacity of 300 million rounds gives it a large production base for small-calibre ammunition. However, production capacity alone does not establish how much ammunition is sold abroad. Export volumes, customer demand and the company’s share of international markets would be needed to assess its position among global suppliers.

India’s defence exports reached ₹38,424 crore in the financial year 2025-26, according to figures released by the Ministry of Defence on April 2, 2026. This was an increase of ₹14,802 crore, or 62.66 per cent, over the previous year’s total of ₹23,622 crore.

The figures cover exports by both government-owned defence companies and private manufacturers. Defence public sector undertakings accounted for ₹21,071 crore, while private companies contributed ₹17,353 crore. Their respective shares were 54.84 per cent and 45.16 per cent.

The government has set a target of ₹50,000 crore in annual defence exports by 2029. Reaching that level will require Indian manufacturers to find more overseas buyers and meet their requirements for quality, delivery, price and after-sales support.

For companies such as Adani Defence & Aerospace, export growth offers an opportunity to expand production and serve customers outside India. Yet the wider industry must also maintain consistent product quality and comply with the rules that apply to defence sales in different countries.

The government’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat programme seeks to increase domestic production and reduce dependence on imported goods. In defence, this includes encouraging Indian firms to manufacture equipment and supplies that the armed forces would otherwise need to obtain from abroad.

Rajnath Singh’s call for higher private sector investment in research and development reflects the work still required to meet that goal. More manufacturing capacity can help meet demand, but sustained progress also depends on research, testing and the ability to produce equipment that meets the needs of armed forces at home and overseas.

Adani Defence & Aerospace’s SIDM award places its export work among the achievements recognised by the industry body this year. The larger test for India’s defence manufacturers will be whether rising exports can be maintained while domestic requirements continue to be met.

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