Defence Public Sector Undertaking, Munitions India Bags Largest Export Order From Saudi Arabia; To Supply 155MM Artillery Shells Worth $225M.
Amidst conflagrations in the Middle East, Saudi Arabia is signing big-ticket deals to purchase Cheongung M-SAM II missile defense systems from South Korea and import artillery munition from India.
The deals were inked during the ongoing Riyadh Defense Expo.
Indian defense producer Munitions India Limited (MIL) has won a big $225 million contract to supply artillery ammunition to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The partner of MIL, Nadrah Company, facilitated this milestone agreement.
This is the largest known export order for the Indian Ordnance Factory Board or its successors. In a bid to enhance functional autonomy and efficiency in Ordnance Factories, the Indian government split it into 7 Defence Public Sector Undertakings with 41 Units with effect from October 1, 2021.
In 2017 and 2019, the UAE bought 40,000 and 50,000 155 mm artillery shells, respectively. The order was valued at around US $40 million in 2017 and US $46 million in 2019.
MIL announced the contract on social media X. The signing of the contract was attended by H. E. Ahmad Abdulaziz Al-Ohali, Governor of the General Authority of Military Industries, KSA, and Indian Minister of State for Defense Ajay Bhatt.
MIL is a subsidiary of the Indian Ministry of Defense and a top manufacturer of a wide range of ammunition, not just 155mm but also 105mm and 125mm. Apart from artillery, the massive manufacturing company provides ammunition for several other military uses.
Essentially, the 155 mm round is a very big bullet with four parts: the detonating fuse, projectile, propellant, and primer. Each round is 155 mm, or 6.1 inches, in diameter, weighs around 100 pounds (45 kilograms), and is roughly 2 feet (60 centimeters) long. They are employed in howitzer systems, which tow massive cannons distinguished by the range of angles at which their barrels may be adjusted.
Howitzers are highly sought after by ground troops to eliminate enemy targets from a safe distance since they can attack targets up to 15 to 20 miles (24 to 32 kilometers) away, depending on the kind of ammunition and firing mechanism deployed. The enemy doesn’t get much warning about the incoming firing.
