India’s Affordable Artillery Offer Disrupts Global Defense Market

India is rapidly emerging as a serious contender in the global arms market, thanks to its aggressive push to export low-cost, high-demand artillery ammunition. As Western nations struggle with production bottlenecks and rising costs, New Delhi has stepped in with a game-changing offer: 155mm artillery shells priced as low as $300 to $400—nearly one-tenth the cost of Western equivalents.

This strategic move comes amid growing international demand, especially due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, which has exposed critical shortages in ammunition stockpiles across Europe and NATO countries. While the West ramps up efforts to revive dormant production lines, India never stopped making large-caliber shells. Decades of military preparedness, fueled by ongoing tensions with China and Pakistan, ensured that Indian factories remained operational and efficient.

Now, the world is taking notice.

Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, India has made arms exports a national priority, aiming to double them to $6 billion by 2029. Although it fell short of its $3.5 billion export target last fiscal year by about 30%, it still marked a monumental rise from just $230 million a decade ago. The shift reflects not only growing industrial capability but also a change in India’s strategic ambitions.

Private and public defense firms across the country are responding swiftly. Companies like SMPP, Munitions India, and Adani Defence and Aerospace are either ramping up or establishing new production lines to manufacture the sought-after 155mm rounds. Some of them have already secured international orders, while Indian-made howitzers—offered at around $3 million per unit—are being marketed at nearly half the cost of their European counterparts.

Ashish Kansal, CEO of SMPP, summed up the moment clearly: “With this changing scenario, definitely we see a huge, massive demand for artillery ammunition.”

India's edge doesn’t just lie in cost. It also benefits from a robust domestic supply chain and a pool of trained engineers and technicians, many of whom have experience working on indigenous platforms like the Dhanush howitzer and the ATAGS (Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System), both of which are now ready for export.

Retired naval commander Gautam Nanda, now a defense consultant, explained that India’s strategic environment kept its defense manufacturing in full gear while Western countries cut back after the Cold War. “There were no cuts on our production capacity,” he said, pointing to India's need to remain battle-ready.

This sustained focus on readiness has positioned India to fill a crucial void in the international defense ecosystem. Countries that are not aligned with major Western powers or cannot afford NATO-standard arms are now looking toward India for reliable and cost-effective options. From African nations to Southeast Asia and parts of Eastern Europe, interest in Indian defense exports is steadily growing.

The current global backdrop—rising geopolitical tensions, disrupted supply chains, and inflation in defense procurement—makes India’s offer both timely and attractive. With a mix of affordability, operational readiness, and manufacturing experience, India is not just competing—it’s shaking up the global defense market.