Rajnath Singh opens 30mm ammunition plant in Nagpur, flags off first Guided Pinaka rockets to Armenia
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated a Medium Caliber Ammunition Manufacturing Facility at Solar Defence & Aerospace Ltd in Nagpur on 18 January 2026 and flagged off the first tranche of Guided Pinaka rockets to Armenia.
Summary
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated the fully automated plant at Solar Defence & Aerospace Limited, Nagpur, Maharashtra, which makes 30mm ammunition used extensively by the Indian Army and Navy. He also visited the Pinaka rocket manufacturing facility and flagged off the first tranche of Guided Pinaka rockets to Armenia. Rajnath Singh said the government aims to make India self-reliant and a global hub in ammunition, and to raise the private sector's share in defence manufacturing to 50% or more soon.
Key facts
- Date
- 18 January 2026
- Facility
- Medium Caliber Ammunition Manufacturing Facility, Solar Defence & Aerospace Ltd, Nagpur
- Product
- 30mm ammunition (Army and Navy); fully automated
- Export
- First tranche of Guided Pinaka rockets to Armenia
- Goal stated
- Private sector share in defence manufacturing 50% or more
Practice MCQs 3 questions
To which country did India flag off the first tranche of Guided Pinaka rockets on 18 January 2026?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — Armenia
PIB (Defence): Rajnath Singh flagged off the first tranche of Guided Pinaka rockets to Armenia from Nagpur.
The Medium Caliber Ammunition Manufacturing Facility inaugurated at Solar Defence & Aerospace Ltd, Nagpur, manufactures which ammunition?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — 30mm
PIB (Defence): the fully automated plant manufactures 30mm ammunition used extensively by the Indian Army and Navy.
At Nagpur in January 2026, the Defence Minister said the government aims to raise the private sector's share in defence manufacturing to what level soon?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — 50% or more
PIB (Defence): Rajnath Singh said the aim is to increase the private sector's role in defence manufacturing to 50% or more soon.