In a significant move towards bolstering India's defence capabilities and exports, the Uttar Pradesh (UP) government has signed over 150 defence manufacturing deals valued at ₹25,000 crore (approximately $3 billion USD).
This strategic initiative aligns with India's record-breaking annual defence production, which reached ₹1.27 trillion ($15.4 billion USD) in the fiscal year 2023-24, a 16.7% increase from the previous year.
The defence projects are strategically located within the mega UP Defence Industrial Corridor (UPDIC), spanning six nodes across Lucknow, Kanpur, Jhansi, Aligarh, Chitrakoot, and Agra districts. These projects are estimated to generate 40,000 new jobs, significantly contributing to the state's economic growth.
A senior UP government official revealed that 154 memorandums of understanding (MoUs) have been signed with various companies, with an additional 85 deals under evaluation.
The nodal agency, UP Expressway Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA),is actively acquiring land for allotment to industrial groups, having already secured 1,700 hectares.
Over 40 companies have been allocated land, with an expected investment of nearly ₹8,000 crore ($970 million USD).
Notable companies involved in the UPDIC include Adani Defence and Aerospace, BrahMos Aerospace, Ancor Research Labs, Tata Technologies, Bharat Dynamics Limited, Delta Combat Systems, SpiceJet Technic, Verivision, HAL, Gliders India, Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO), and Aerolloy Technologies.
India's defence exports witnessed a remarkable 32% surge, reaching ₹21,083 crore ($2.5 billion USD) in 2023-24. UP is leveraging its vast MSME (Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises) base to propel the "Make in UP" initiative, aiming to move up the industrial value chain and contribute to the growing defence export basket.
A significant milestone has been achieved with the delivery of 35,000 Kalashnikov AK-203 assault rifles to the Indian Army. These rifles were assembled at the Korwa factory in Amethi district, a joint venture between India and Russia. The project is expected to produce a total of 600,000 AK-203 rifles over ten years.
Furthermore, another Indo-Russia joint venture plant is under development in Lucknow, spanning 80 hectares, dedicated to manufacturing BrahMos missiles for the Indian defence forces. BrahMos, a supersonic missile developed jointly by India's DRDO and Russia's NPOM, represents a significant advancement in India's defence capabilities.
UP's strategic focus on defence manufacturing, combined with its robust industrial infrastructure and skilled workforce, positions the state as a crucial player in India's journey towards self-reliance in defence production and a major contributor to the global defence market.
