Reliance Infra, German company to make guided munitions

India’s Reliance Infrastructure Limited, promoted by Anil Ambani-led Reliance Defence, on Monday announced a strategic cooperation agreement with Germany’s Diehl Defence to manufacture high-precision ammunition for artillery guns.

Under the partnership, the two companies will jointly produce next-generation Terminally Guided Munitions (TGM), including the state-of-the-art ‘Vulcano 155 mm’ precision-guided ammunition. These munitions will feature advanced laser and GPS-guided targeting systems to enable high-impact accuracy against designated targets.

A Reliance statement said the collaboration aims to drive indigenous production, with more than 50 per cent local value addition. Reliance Defence will focus on localising critical defence technologies and positioning itself as a key private-sector partner in India’s defence modernisation efforts.

Diehl Defence, which employs about 4,500 people and records annual sales exceeding €2 billion, will contribute core technologies and system-level expertise.

This is Reliance Group’s fourth major global defence partnership, adding to its collaborations with Dassault Aviation, Thales Group and Rheinmetall.

Notably, the Army had previously used US-origin ‘Excalibur’ precision ammunition, fired from M777 howitzers, during a strike on terror camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on May 7.