India's Defence Minister Rajnath Singh flags off Suryastra rocket launchers on May 23, 2026, says India to become major defence exporter in 25-30 years

Key facts

• On May 23, 2026, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh flagged off the first batch of Suryastra universal rocket launchers from Nibe Ltd's facility in Shirdi, Maharashtra.
• The Suryastra system, developed using technology from Elbit Systems and in-house research and development, successfully underwent firing trials on May 18-19, 2026, and features shoot-and-scoot capability with precision-guided rockets ranging 150-300 km and loitering munitions up to 100 km.
• The emergency procurement order for Suryastra was valued at Rs 293 crore and awarded to Nibe Ltd in January 2026.
• Rajnath Singh stated that India's private sector participation in defence manufacturing has increased to 25-30% and is expected to rise to nearly 50%, and that India has the potential to become a major defence exporter in 25-30 years.
• Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced that the Defence Minister has approved a defence corridor for Maharashtra with hubs in Nashik, Pune, Ahilyanagar, and Nagpur.
• Nibe Group's defence manufacturing complex in Shirdi is worth Rs 3,000 crore, and the company plans to invest Rs 10,000 crore in phases, generating around 5,000 jobs.
• Among those present at the event were Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) Chairman Samir V Kamat, and Nibe Group CMD Ganesh Nibe.