Kanpur, Aug 14 (KNN) Advanced Weapons and Equipment India Limited (AWEIL), a state-owned company manufacturing defence products in Kanpur's Armapur, has received an order to manufacture defence products worth Rs 6000 crore. These include an order for 300 'Sarang' cannons from the Indian Army and orders worth Rs 450 crore received from European countries, it’s CMD said as reported by TOI.

AWEIL, which comprises eight factories of the erstwhile Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) and primarily manufactures small arms and artillery guns for the use of the Indian armed forces, foreign militaries and domestic civilian use, was established in 2021 as part of the restructuring and corporatization of the OFB into seven different PSUs.

Chief managing director (CMD) Rajesh Choudhary said, "When there was no corporate culture in the defence sector, we had orders for defence products worth Rs 4,500 crore. But when the system changed and we started working after getting corporatized, we got orders worth Rs 6,000 crore. About 35% more orders have been received in the last two years."

Choudhary said that there is a possibility of getting orders worth Rs 2500 crore in the next six months.

The CMD said that the firepower of Dhanush cannon made in Kanpur has now been expanded. "Earlier, it was made of 155mm/45 calibre. Now, we have developed a prototype of 155mm/52 calibre. All its tests are done, and it will soon be brought out," he said.

A two-day exhibition on defence products was also organized by the Ordnance Factory at Armapur Grounds. Small Arms Factory general manager Rajiv Sharm and exhibition coordinator Arun Kastwar and others were present on this occasion. (KNN Bureau)