Reliance Defense to Manufacture Diehl’s Vulcano 155 mm Munition in India

India's Reliance Defence on Tuesday announced a strategic cooperation with Germany’s, Diehl Defence, for the production of next-generation Terminally Guided Munitions (TGM).

As part of the agreement, Reliance Defence will establish a high-tech, greenfield manufacturing facility in Watad Industrial Area, Ratnagiri, Maharashtra state. 

The partnership will drive local production of Diehl’s, Vulcano 155 mm Precision Guided Munition system, catering to the Indian Armed Forces and export market.

The advanced munition system will incorporate laser and GPS-guided targeting technology, enhancing precision striking capability, while ensuring high-impact accuracy for designated targets.

Reliance Defence has the market opportunity to potentially generate INR 10,000 Crore in revenue through the development and supply of advanced ammunition systems.

This marks Reliance Group’s fourth strategic global partnership, expanding upon its established collaborations with Dassault Aviation, Thales Group of France, and Rheinmetall.

Helmut Rauch, CEO, Diehl Defence said, “Diehl Defence looks forward to strengthen the current relationship with Reliance Group in the context of TGM for the Indian Armed Forces.”

Diehl Defence has developed, together with its industrial partner LEONARDO, the new guided artillery ammunition VULCANO. The ammunition family combines highest target accuracy with the unique option of mission abort after firing for this kind of ammunition.

The combination of satellite-based navigation with laser- or infrared-sensor control makes VULCANO one of the most accurate artillery ammunitions worldwide.

VULCANO is being offered as 155 mm caliber for army artillery and 127 mm for navies. The 155 mm-caliber version can be fired from the self-propelled howitzer 2000 (PzH2000), the FH-70 and M-777-A2 field howitzers as well as from the CAESAR and M109 self-propelled howitzers. The 127 mm version can be employed in 127 mm/64 light-weight und 127 mm/54 compact naval guns installed, for example, on the ship types Frigate F125, Multi-Purpose Frigate FREMM and destroyer MEKO 360