Tirupati Forge arms licence: pilot shell output Dec 2026

The announcement and why it matters

Tirupati Forge Limited has received an industrial licence under the Indian Arms Act, 1959, allowing it to manufacture empty artillery shell bodies across multiple calibres. The company disclosed the development through a corporate announcement and press release dated September 19, 2026. The approval enables Tirupati Forge to enter the defence manufacturing segment, adding a new vertical alongside its existing engineering product lines. The company said the licence covers “all major sizes” of empty artillery shells, including several standard calibres used in artillery ammunition supply chains.

The immediate significance is regulatory. Without an arms-related industrial licence, defence ammunition manufacturing cannot move beyond planning and facility setup. With this approval in hand, Tirupati Forge has laid out a near-term production roadmap that starts with pilot manufacturing runs in December 2026 and then moves toward commercial-scale output.

What the industrial licence permits

According to the company, the licence covers the manufacturing of empty artillery shells in the following calibres:

• 105mm
• 120mm
• 122mm
• 125mm
• 130mm
• 152mm
• 155mm

The company described the licence as “strategic” and said it positions Tirupati Forge within a limited set of licensed suppliers. Separate coverage in the provided material also frames the approval as a step that allows the company to enter the defence manufacturing sector and expand its presence in strategic defence supplies.

155mm variants included under the approval

Tirupati Forge highlighted that the 155mm category coverage is broad and includes multiple artillery ammunition variants. Under 155mm, the licence covers:

• HE M107
• HE L15A1
• Extended Range Full Bore (ERFB)
• ERFB Base Bleed (BB)
• ERFB Boat Tail (BT)

These classifications matter because they indicate the permission is not limited to a single shell body specification within the 155mm family. The company’s communication states the licence “comprehensively covers” these variants, implying it can address different demand profiles within 155mm artillery ammunition types.

Facility, location, and initial capacity

The disclosures refer to an “advanced defence center” and also describe it as a newly commissioned defence facility. The market snapshot text specifies the facility is in Rajkot, Gujarat. The initial production capability is stated as 150,000 units annually, also expressed as 1.5 lakh units per year.

This capacity figure is important because it sets a baseline for the scale of operations the company is targeting from the outset. Tirupati Forge also said it has “deliberate plans already underway to scale up output” at its advanced production center, indicating that capacity expansion is part of the plan beyond the initial 150,000 units.

Pilot manufacturing in December 2026 and the commercialization path

Tirupati Forge said it is on track to start pilot manufacturing runs in December 2026. The company also stated it intends to “rapidly transition” from the pilot phase into full-scale industrial commercialization. In another defence update line included in the material, commercial production for the “Empty Shell Body 155 MM M107 defence project” is expected to commence in Q2 FY27.

Taken together, the public timeline points to three steps. First is the receipt of the industrial licence (September 2026). Second is pilot production (December 2026). Third is commercial production for the 155mm M107 project (expected in Q2 FY27, as per the referenced defence update slide).

Industry backdrop: push for domestic defence production

The material links the development to India’s wider push for self-reliance in defence production. One excerpt notes that the licence places Tirupati Forge among a limited group of licensed domestic manufacturers in the artillery ammunition supply chain, at a time when India is seeking greater domestic capability. Separately, the text mentions that Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has authorised the transfer of technologies, including conventional missile systems developed by DRDO, to eligible Indian defence manufacturers for indigenous production.

While the technology-transfer line is broader than Tirupati Forge’s specific announcement, it provides context on policy direction. The key confirmed point in this case remains the regulatory approval that enables Tirupati Forge to manufacture empty shell bodies across the specified calibres.

How this changes Tirupati Forge’s business profile

The provided “What’s Changed” section describes the licence as a structural shift from Tirupati Forge’s core automotive and industrial flange business into defence ammunition manufacturing. The text also notes that the company’s wider product base includes forged flanges (including carbon steel, DIN, plate, stainless steel, and long weld neck) and automotive components such as crank shafts, connecting rods, gears, and hubs.

With the defence licence, the company is formally authorised to add artillery shell bodies to its manufacturing portfolio. The same provided material characterises this as a “major commercial pivot into the defense sector,” anchored by the commissioning of a defence facility designed for volume output.

Financial signals disclosed alongside the defence update

A company presentation excerpt in the material attributes moderation in profitability to higher depreciation and financing costs linked to commissioning of the new defence plant and a solar power unit. The same excerpt states the defence vertical could generate approximately INR 250 crore of annual revenue at full utilisation, with EBITDA margins expected to be upwards of 40%.

These figures are forward-looking expectations as presented in the provided text, not reported outcomes. They also connect the new plant build-out with near-term cost pressures, while outlining the potential earnings profile management associates with the defence vertical at scale.

Market snapshot and stock data mentioned

The supplied market snapshot reiterates that the industrial licence is a critical regulatory milestone and that it clears the path for pilot production in December 2026. It also references the company’s initial capacity of 1.5 lakh units annually at its defence center in Rajkot, Gujarat.

Separately, the material cites a market close share price for Tirupati Forge: ₹67.68.

Key facts at a glance

Timeline of disclosed milestones

What to watch next

The next confirmed milestone is the start of pilot manufacturing runs in December 2026, as stated by the company. Beyond that, the company has indicated a plan to scale up output at its advanced production center and to transition toward commercial-scale production. Another stated point to track is the expected commercial production timeline for the 155mm M107 project in Q2 FY27.

For further information, the press release lists an official contact email as cs@tirupatiforge,com and the company website as www.tirupatiforge.com.

Conclusion

Tirupati Forge’s industrial licence under the Indian Arms Act, 1959 authorises it to manufacture empty artillery shells across seven calibres up to 155mm, including multiple 155mm variants. The company has disclosed an initial capacity of 150,000 units per year and a pilot production start planned for December 2026, with commercial production for a 155mm M107 project expected in Q2 FY27. The key next data points are execution updates on pilot runs, capacity scaling at the Rajkot facility, and any formal milestones toward commercial-scale output.