Pvt ammunition plant in Nalagarh to begin production by March 2026

One of northern India’s largest private-sector military ammunition manufacturing units is set to begin operations in March 2026.

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The 800-acre facility, located in Nalagarh, Himachal Pradesh, about 40 km from Chandigarh, is being developed by the SMPP. “We’re on track to start production by March next year,” said Ashish Kansal, CEO and Director, SMPP.

The plant, being built in two phases, will produce 1,00,000 rounds of 155 mm artillery ammunition annually. This will cater to the Army as well as export market. The SMPP has already secured ammunition export orders worth over $200 million.

The Army uses 155 mm shells for several of its artillery systems, including the Bofors, Dhanush, Sharang and the indigenous ATAGS (Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System). With a plan to induct around 3,000 155 mm guns, the demand is expected to remain robust. The SMPP also plans to manufacture precision-guided ammunition in collaboration with a technology partner. Such ammunition was recently deployed during Operation Sindoor.

Apart from ammunition, the SMPP is a major supplier of protective gear to the Army. The company has delivered over 2.2 lakh bulletproof jackets and recently received an order for 27,000 more.

Its bulletproof jackets are capable of stopping hard steel and tungsten-core bullets, credited with saving numerous lives in the field. The SMPP’s advanced ballistic helmets, which can withstand AK-47 fire, are also in use in counter-terrorism operations. The Army placed an order for 11,700 of these helmets last week.

The company also supplies underbelly protection systems for European military aircraft.