Shirdi (Maharashtra) [India], May 23 (ANI): Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday inaugurated the NIBE Group's defence manufacturing facility in Shirdi.

Following the inauguration of the NIBE facility, Rajnath Singh also visited the Shirdi Sai Baba temple and offered prayers.

The Defence Minister also visited the entire facility and flagged off the Suryastra Rocket Launcher System from the site and was accompanied by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

Addressing the gathering, Rajnath Singh said that this is the land of Shivaji, and inspired by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, India is building a 'fortress of self-reliance' in the defence sector here.

Praising NIBE Group CMD Ganesh Nibe, the Defence Minister said that his confidence has been strengthened that India does not lack talent.

'After seeing this facility, I can say with certainty that no power in the world can stop India from becoming the world's largest exporter in the defence sector in next 25-30 years. Today, a golden chapter is being written in India's defence and space sectors,' he said.

He described the event as a milestone in many ways, saying, 'An artillery shells plant with an annual production capacity of five lakh shells has been launched, the foundation stone for a missile complex linked to the Universal Rocket Launching System has been laid, and a contract related to satellite technology has been signed with Black Sky. A 15-ton capacity biogas plant has also been established.'

Rajnath Singh also said that India had been strong in the field of defence manufacturing even before Independence.

'When we say the British took raw materials from India, we usually talk only about tea and spices. But there was another important resource they took from India as well, potassium nitrate, which was used to make gunpowder,' he said.

He emphasised that harnessing the energy of the private sector is essential for achieving an Atmanirbhar Bharat. That is why policy reforms were introduced and FDI norms were liberalised.

'We have prepared a positive indigenisation list of more than 5,000 items, which will now be prioritised for production in India. A nation that manufactures its own weapons writes its own history,' he said.

He noted that private sector participation in defence production has now reached nearly 30 percent and the target is to increase it to 50 per cent.

'The private sector is no longer just a supplier of nuts and bolts; it has become an innovator of state-of-the-art weapon systems. Foreign companies now want to collaborate with India and transfer technology, showing that India's efforts are yielding results.' He added.

Referring to the Suryastra Rocket Launcher System, the Defence Minister remarked that the system produced at the facility would be enough to bring about the 'sunset of the enemy's intentions.'

Speaking on future warfare, Rajnath Singh said that wars of the future would depend not on the size of armies but on how advanced a country is in automation and munitions.

'We are already witnessing this in current global conflicts. India also demonstrated this during Operation Sindoor. It is not easy to deploy soldiers everywhere, which is why automation is essential,' he said.

He added that India must work collectively to become a global hub for munitions and automation, with a strong push for 'Make in India' in critical technologies and advanced systems.

Invoking the legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the Defence Minister said, Shivaji built weapons using local resources, and inspired by him, India is now building a stronghold of self-reliance in Maharashtra.

'How can the land of Shivaji lag behind in defence?' he asked, recalling that the slogan 'Swaraj is my birthright' emerged from this very land. He also appealed to private players to come forward and contribute more actively to the defence sector. (ANI)