Diehl Defence and Reliance Defence deepen strategic partnership

Diehl Defence has reaffirmed its long-term commitment to India and the government’s ‘Make in India’ initiative through a strategic collaboration with Reliance Defence. Central to this partnership is the expedited delivery of the “System Vulcano 155mm Precision Guided Munition” to meet the Indian Armed Forces’ urgent operational requirements.

In parallel, the two companies are advancing the “System Vulcano 155mm under Make in India-II” programme. Under this initiative, Reliance Defence will serve as the prime contractor for the Indian customer, with Diehl Defence playing a key role as a strategic partner. The collaboration aims to achieve over 50 per cent indigenous content, in line with the Indian government’s focus on self-reliance in defence manufacturing.

“We are eager to further deepen our collaboration with Reliance Defence to support the Indian Armed Forces with advanced precision-guided munitions,” said Helmut Rauch, CEO of Diehl Defence.

Anil D. Ambani, Founder and Chairman of the Reliance Group, highlighted the significance of the alliance: “It is an honour to partner with Diehl Defence, a global leader in guided munitions. This strategic cooperation not only accelerates India’s defence manufacturing capabilities but also strengthens Reliance Defence’s role in the global defence supply chain. Our collaboration aligns with the Prime Minister’s vision of Make in India and the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative. It reflects our commitment to innovation, self-reliance, and establishing India as a key player in the global defence landscape.”

The partnership is also set to benefit from Reliance’s upcoming greenfield manufacturing facility in the Watad Industrial Area, Ratnagiri, Maharashtra. Once operational, the facility will have the capacity to produce up to 200,000 artillery shells annually, along with 10,000 tonnes of explosives and 2,000 tonnes of propellants—further boosting India’s domestic defence production capabilities.