Rajkot: In a first for Gujarat, a weapons manufacturing factory is being set up in Satda village of Gondal taluka, marking a major milestone for the state’s defence sector. The project, undertaken by Raspian Enterprise Pvt. Ltd., involves an investment of around ₹75 crore and covers an area of approximately 15,000 square feet.

Construction work for the factory shed has already begun, and production is expected to commence by January 2026. The company has obtained official approval for the manufacture of arms, ammunition, and bullets — making it the first facility of its kind in Gujarat.

According to company officials, the project will not only boost Gujarat’s presence in the national defence manufacturing ecosystem but also contribute to technical development, local employment, and industrial growth in and around Satda village. In the initial phase, the unit will employ over 20 people, with the number expected to rise as production scales up.

Company promoters Alpesh Bhavsar and Executive Director (Technical) Harnil Shah said the project is spread over five acres. “The government had allotted land and granted approval in 2019, but progress was delayed due to the pandemic. Construction has now resumed, and we aim to begin operations by January 2026,” they said.

The company will manufacture small arms for the Ministry of Defence under the ‘Make in India’ initiative, with the goal of reducing India’s dependence on imports from countries such as the US, Russia, and Israel.

Executive Director Harnil Shah added that the company would sell its products exclusively to the Indian Armed Forces, and any future exports would exclude countries hostile to India. “Our aim is to strengthen India’s self-reliance in defence manufacturing. The factory will also operate under the security supervision of CISF personnel,” he said.

This will be the fourth factory in India manufacturing small arms, further solidifying the country’s indigenous production capabilities. DeshGujarat