India's Artillery Ammo Boom Draws Scrutiny Amidst Ukraine War

India is quickly establishing itself as a formidable force in the global artillery ammunition market, now the third-largest producer behind Russia and China. However, its meteoric rise comes with heightened scrutiny due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Recent successes underscore India's growing prowess. A lucrative $225 million deal with Saudi Arabia and a contract from the US Army for its Bi-Modular Charge System (BMCS) – an essential 155mm artillery propellant – showcase the country's capabilities. Compatibility with NATO standards and advanced manufacturing techniques, resulting in fewer faulty shells, add to the appeal of Indian-made ammunition.

But this newfound prominence has a dark side. The war in Ukraine has fueled a global ammunition shortage, inviting unwanted attention from dubious entities seeking to exploit the situation. Indian manufacturers report a spike in suspicious inquiries, forcing them to enhance security protocols. Additionally, India's neutral position in the war, maintaining a refusal to supply arms to either side, creates another dimension of complexity.

Evidence suggests that, despite stringent efforts, some Indian-made artillery shells have found their way to the Ukrainian battlefield, most likely via third-party nations. Companies claim diligence, but once exported, tracking ammunition becomes a significant challenge with the potential for indirect resupplying of Ukraine.

Two years of conflict have drained European and American stockpiles, prompting a rush of orders for Indian ammunition. Though importing countries often pledge these supplies are for their own use and not meant for Ukraine, guaranteeing complete oversight proves difficult. Concerns from Russia about Indian munitions reaching Ukraine have resulted in additional checks by the Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD).

India's burgeoning defence exports offer a mix of opportunity and risk. The nation must tread cautiously, ensuring responsible trade and maintaining its commitment to technological progress. The challenge ahead will be striking a delicate balance between economic benefits and India's neutral stance within the war, a difficult act likely to shape the years ahead.

 

[sanket]

Oh they dont want India to Buy Russian oil But want Indian Ammunition.

 

[Anil Kumar]

India should export its ammunition to all interested countries. America, Nato, Russia, Ukrain also exported it's weapons to all interested countries including China, Pakistan, India

 

[Baiju Bhaskaran]

If Russia wants, export it to Russia also. No need of staying neutral.

 

[Ramsses CDXX]

• India should mandatorily sign End Use Agreement & Monitoring Mechanism with buyer countries to prevent proxy re-export of arms and ammunition. This would prevent arms from being re-supplied into conflict zones. Incase it is done, the culpability falls on colluding country and not India.
• Avoid arms aid & supply to warring parties with substantial geopolitics consequences i.e. Russia & Ukraine.

 

[Amit Ray]

Avoid arms aid & supply to warring parties with substantial geopolitics consequences i.e. Russia & Ukraine.

Who will need ammunition except by warring parties in different war zones. These are primary weapons which generally don't have any geopolitical consequences.

 

[lifeisroblox]

Let our products be battle tested to build a good rep.

 

[NSR]

India is not selling directly to Ukraine or to Israel.
But Remember Russia sells arms hardware and ammunitions to our bitter enemy Terroristan and criminal china too.
Also remember Israel sells us all kinds of arms and ammunition.

Armament business is a dual edged sword and cutthroat deals.

Nothing to be ashamed India selling arms which end up in conflict zones.
Keep selling and improve your own armaments business.

 

[Apocalypse gupta]

India should sell to anyone other than ukraine and russia. It is not India's problem what a 3rd country does with ammo. India is not supllying the weapon. Ammo without weapon is useless.

 

[Apocalypse gupta]

India should mandatorily sign End Use Agreement & Monitoring Mechanism with buyer countries to prevent proxy re-export of arms and ammunition. This would prevent arms from being re-supplied into conflict zones. Incase it is done, the culpability falls on colluding country and not India.

Nobody will buy from us then.

 

[Aravind Raveendran]

There is nothing to be ashamed of and no need of any explanation. This is a cut throat business and has been since one can remember.
Every arms exporting nation have been doing the same thing so make hay when the sun shines. We will be able to test our arms in real war scenario which could earn us reputation for being high quality and low expense.

 

[Sandeep]

This is absolute nonsense! India should carry on making larger or any type of contracts to whoever we want to. We shouldn't stop our manufacturing industry or from making any profits that benefit our country and people.

It's ironic that nobody questions any military sales in technology, ammunition, weapons or advanced defence systems that countries from the UNSC make to whoever they want to but just because India isn't a member of the UNSC we should stop making our sales.

They are a bunch of selfish hypocrites who decide to ignore any laws, principles or conventions that suit them. India should ignore them and speed up making any deals and manufacturing them. Once India makes a sale and delivers it we shouldn't be concerned what that country does with it and India have already denied making any weapons sale to either Ukraine or Russia for this war.

 

[beencensured]

Adani with its new ammunitions factory must be licking its chops as they have advance ways of bypassing all rules and regulations.

 

[beencensured]

Nobody will buy from us then.

How would we enforce?

 

[Sudha]

Adani with its new ammunitions factory must be licking its chops as they have advance ways of bypassing all rules and regulations.

The group of companies are giving thousands of jobs & a desktop strategist who hasn't created any job for Bharatiyas nor strengthened Bharat's security takes unfounded potshot at the company.

 

[Sudha]

Many commentators here are taking short term views & recommend making quick bucks without any ethics. Just thank god these people aren't sitting in seats of power in Bharat. Tech for Bharst comes from US, France, Israel, Russia & sometimes from UK, Germany, South Korea........ Bharat should stay neutral in this conflict & like Ramsses commented, sign end use agreements with customers.

 

[Apocalypse gupta]

How would we enforce?

we cant, and we should not

 

[beencensured]

The group of companies are giving thousands of jobs & a desktop strategist who hasn't created any job for Bharatiyas nor strengthened Bharat's security takes unfounded potshot at the company.

You can talk about yourself, but not me. I have given plenty of jobs. They also take benefit from country, or did you not hear ADani drones used for dropping bombs on Gaza? So, Adani is jumping. They have ways and means to profit.

 

[Anil Kumar]

Many commentators here are taking short term views & recommend making quick bucks without any ethics. Just thank god these people aren't sitting in seats of power in Bharat. Tech for Bharst comes from US, France, Israel, Russia & sometimes from UK, Germany, South Korea........ Bharat should stay neutral in this conflict & like Ramsses commented, sign end use agreements with customers.

I have one question. India have imported oil from Russia and exported the same oil to Europe during the war, why ? For its own benifit. Then why can not it export its weapons to European countries

 

[zilexa]

Oh they dont want India to Buy Russian oil But want Indian Ammunition.

India imports billions of dollars worth of food (grains, vegetable oils) from Ukraine. Trade between India and Ukraine has increased massively since the war.
India is an ally of the US, and it needs it, due to the situation with Pakistan. On the other hand, it needs it's ally Russia, due to the security thread that China poses. India cannot afford to choose a side in this war, its security threats are far more complicated than any other country in the world.

 

[RG]

Ha ha, jokes all over, the west keeps supplying and want rest to import arms and kill themselves, when they get affected, the rules need to change.

 

[desigandu]

Bharat should develop our arms industry and supply chains (wars are won by munitions, logistics and atmanirbharta) and sell them to friendly countries...if they end up in a war somewhere, well that is geopolitics and geoeconomics.