Sunita Tools Ltd, a rising force in India’s defense manufacturing sector, has clinched a landmark Letter of Intent (LOI) for the supply of 100,000 units of 155mm M107 empty artillery shells to a prominent defense supplier in a neutral, friendly Far Eastern nation—a NATO-standard order that marks the company’s entry into the global munitions supply chain. The order, valued between ₹200 crore and ₹300 crore (approximately $23-35 million), is one of the largest export contracts for an Indian private-sector defense firm in recent years.
Major Export Order:
Sunita Tools will deliver 100,000 pieces of 155mm M107 empty artillery shells, a NATO-standard projectile widely used in modern howitzers. Deliveries are set to begin in March 2026, at a rate of 7,500 shells per month, with the entire order to be fulfilled within 13–14 months.
Strategic Market Entry:
The LOI was issued by a well-established defense supplier in a neutral and friendly Far Eastern country, with the Ministry of Defence (MoD) of that nation directly providing the End-User Certificate (EUC). This ensures compliance with international arms trade regulations and underscores the credibility of the deal.
Infrastructure and Team Expansion:
Sunita Tools is gearing up to set up large-scale manufacturing infrastructure and assemble a dedicated team to meet the demanding production schedule. The company will initially supply trial samples and low-volume batches from its existing facility, with full-scale production ramping up over the next eight months.
Advance Payment and Execution:
An advance payment from the buyer is expected soon to secure manufacturing volumes, reflecting strong confidence in Sunita Tools’ technical capability and reliability.
Leadership Commentary:
Sanjay Pandey, Chairman & Whole-Time Technical Director, emphasized the strategic significance of the order: “This is the biggest LOI for the Sunita Tools group. It propels us into a fast-growing, highly profitable industry, leveraging our 36 years of technical expertise to meet both domestic and global demand for artillery munitions.”
Boost to India’s Defense Exports:
This contract aligns with India’s goal of achieving $5 billion in defense exports by 2025 and highlights the growing role of private players in the country’s “Make in India” initiative.
Insight
Sunita Tools’ breakthrough order not only cements its place in the global defense supply chain but also signals India’s expanding capability as a reliable exporter of high-value defense components. The company’s ability to meet stringent NATO standards and deliver at scale positions it for further international contracts and sustained growth in the defense sector.
Source: IDRW.org, Business Standard, EquityBulls, Defence.in