Adani Defence & Aerospace Wins SIDM Champion Award 2026 for Defence Export Excellence
By Suman Munshi | IBG NEWS
New Delhi, October 10, 2026: Adani Defence & Aerospace has received the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM) Champion Award 2026 in recognition of its export performance in the defence and aerospace sector. The award was presented during SIDM’s eighth annual session in New Delhi on October 9, highlighting the company’s contribution to India’s indigenous defence manufacturing and international market outreach.
The recognition reflects the company’s efforts to expand domestic production capabilities and supply defence-related products to customers in overseas markets.
Kanpur Facility Strengthens Ammunition Manufacturing
A key component of the company’s defence manufacturing operations is its ammunition complex in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. The facility manufactures small-calibre ammunition for defence and law enforcement customers in international markets and has an annual production capacity of 300 million rounds.
According to the company’s media note, the plant produces ammunition conforming to North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) standards. Its operations support India’s broader objective of strengthening domestic defence production under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
Defence Minister Highlights Private Sector Participation
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh presented the award in the presence of Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh and Director General (Acquisition) A. Anbarasu.
During the annual session, the Defence Minister emphasised the importance of greater private-sector participation in defence manufacturing. He also called for increased investment in research and development and the expansion of industrial capacity to meet the country’s defence requirements.
A total of 15 awards were presented at the event, recognising achievements across technology development, product innovation, design, import substitution, manufacturing excellence and exports.
Focus on Indigenous Technology and Digital Manufacturing
Ashish Rajvanshi, Chief Executive Officer of Adani Defence & Aerospace, welcomed the recognition, noting the company’s commitment to developing high-quality products in India for international markets.
He said the company would continue investing in technology and indigenous manufacturing to address the changing requirements of defence and security customers.
The Kanpur ammunition complex incorporates automated manufacturing systems, artificial intelligence-enabled quality inspection, real-time data analytics and digital monitoring throughout the production process. The facility also employs digital systems designed to eliminate manual handling of hazardous materials on the shopfloor.
The company’s media note states that the manufacturing unit maintains complete digital traceability across its production value chain, supported by digital security systems.
Ballistics Testing and Quality Assurance
The Kanpur complex also houses a ballistics testing range equipped with an Electronic Pressure, Velocity and Action Time (EPVAT) system. The testing facility is accredited by the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL), India’s national accreditation body for testing and calibration laboratories.
These capabilities form part of the facility’s testing and quality-assurance infrastructure for ammunition manufacturing.
The latest award follows a separate SIDM Champion Award presented to the company’s Kanpur Ammunition Complex in 2025 for excellence in design, manufacturing and testing.
India’s Defence Exports Set a New Record
The recognition comes amid a significant expansion in India’s defence exports. According to the figures cited in the company’s media note, India’s defence exports reached a record ₹38,424 crore in the financial year 2025–26, representing growth of 62.66 per cent over the previous financial year.
The government has set a target of ₹50,000 crore in annual defence exports by 2029.
The award to Adani Defence & Aerospace highlights the growing role of private manufacturers in India’s defence industrial ecosystem, particularly in indigenous production, technological modernisation and exports.
As India works towards expanding its domestic defence manufacturing base, production capacity, quality assurance, research and development, and access to international markets are expected to remain important factors in strengthening the country’s position in the global defence supply chain.
Source: Company media note on the SIDM Champion Award 2026.
Suman Munshi
IBG NEWS
