NEW DELHI\u00a0\u2014\u00a0India’s major private sector ammunition manufacturer\u00a0wants to increase its footprint in the African\u00a0ammunition\u00a0market and is considering setting up bulk explosives factories in\u00a0Australia and Indonesia, according to Nilesh Panpaliya, the chief\u00a0financial\u00a0officer of\u00a0Nagpur-based Solar Industries.
“OFB is the main source for supply of ammunition to the Indian Army.\u00a0However, the OFB has consistently failed to supply the targeted\u00a0quantity,\u00a0with shortfalls ranging up to 73 percent of the total types of<\/p>\n\n\n\n
ammunition indented,” the CAG report noted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rahul Bhonsle, a retired Indian Army brigadier and defense analyst, believes\u00a0the\u00a0participation of private sector defense companies can help meet India’s\u00a0ammunition requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“The monopoly of the OFB in manufacturing and the DRDO in development\u00a0of\u00a0higher grade munitions had prevented the entry of the private sector\u00a0companies. These organizations [OFB and DRDO] have not been able to\u00a0make\u00a0any breakthrough in manufacturing high-grade ammunition such as bi-modular charge despite\u00a0over a decade spent in development,” Bhonsle said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n