Award recognises the company’s growing defence exports, indigenous ammunition manufacturing and advanced production and testing capabilities.
New Delhi: Adani Defence & Aerospace has won the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM) Champion Award 2026 for Export Performance in Defence and Aerospace. The award was presented during SIDM’s eighth annual session in New Delhi on October 9.
The company manufactures small-calibre ammunition for defence and law enforcement customers in international markets. Its manufacturing complex in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, has an annual production capacity of 300 million rounds and produces ammunition conforming to North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) standards, supporting the Government of India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh presented the award in the presence of Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh and Director General (Acquisition) A. Anbarasu. A total of 15 awards recognised achievements across technology development, product innovation, design, import substitution, manufacturing excellence and exports.
Addressing the session, Rajnath Singh called for greater private-sector participation in defence production, increased investment in research and development, and expanded manufacturing capacity to meet India’s defence requirements.
Ashish Rajvanshi, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Adani Defence & Aerospace, said, “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 latest recognition follows another SIDM Champion Award presented in 2025 to the company’s Kanpur Ammunition Complex for excellence in design, manufacturing and testing.
The Kanpur facility employs automated manufacturing systems, artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled quality inspection, real-time data analytics and digital monitoring throughout the production process. Its digital shopfloor eliminates manual handling of hazardous materials. The facility also maintains 100 per cent digital traceability across the manufacturing value chain, supported by digital security systems.
The complex houses a ballistics testing range equipped with an Electronic Pressure, Velocity and Action Time (EPVAT) system. The range is accredited by the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL), India’s apex accreditation body for testing and calibration laboratories.
India’s defence exports reached a record ₹38,424 crore in FY2025–26, registering growth of 62.66 per cent over the previous financial year. The government has set a target of achieving ₹50,000 crore in annual defence exports by 2029.
