Make in India in Action: An Interview with Ankur Shah, Managing Director at Krishna Defence

An Exclusive Interview with Ankur Shah, Managing Director at Krishna Defence & Allied Industries, Defence, Security, Dairy & Mega Kitchen equipment manufacturer

In this exclusive interview, Ankur Shah, Managing Director of Krishna Defence & Allied Industries, shares insights on driving India’s defence self-reliance through innovative manufacturing in security, naval systems, dairy equipment, and mega kitchens, blending steel expertise with strategic vision.

What specific defence platforms or weapon systems are currently driving your order book, and what’s your expected production capacity for FY25–26?

Ankur Shah: We are an established supplier of specialised, high-grade steel products for critical defence applications, supporting the construction of major Indian Naval platforms such as Fleet Support Ships, Frigates, and other Strategic Platforms.

Our products are also used in the manufacture of T-90 main battle tanks for the Indian Army, underscoring our capability to meet the stringent quality, performance, and traceability requirements of defence programs.

In response to growing demand from the defence and strategic sectors, we have undertaken a significant capacity expansion, resulting in a near doubling of our manufacturing capabilities.

We are now fully equipped to manufacture and supply approximately 4,000–4,500 metric tonnes of special steel annually, while maintaining strict adherence to defence-grade quality standards, certification requirements, and delivery schedules.

Our enhanced capacity, combined with in-house technical expertise, robust quality control systems, and experience in executing defence contracts, positions us as a reliable long-term partner for Indian defence shipyards, armoured vehicle manufacturers, and strategic OEMs under the Atmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India (Defence) initiatives.

How is Krishna Defence differentiating its manufacturing quality from competitors in a market dominated by legacy suppliers?

Ankur Shah: At Krishna​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ Defence, we differentiate our manufacturing quality by integrating advanced technology, strict quality control, and precision engineering, setting ourselves apart from legacy suppliers. 

Whereas traditional players generally depend on established methods, we focus on modern, automated production lines and real-time monitoring systems that guarantee consistent performance and reliability.

We are also deeply committed to R&D to develop new materials and components that meet evolving defence requirements.

Additionally, we implement strong testing protocols and comply with international standards to regain the trust of customers; thus, every product is guaranteed to be mission-ready.

This emphasis on quality, innovation, and compliance is what makes us a trustworthy alternative in a market that is dominated by ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌legacy.

What critical indigenisation gaps in India’s defence ecosystem are you currently addressing, and where do you still see bottlenecks?

Ankur Shah: At Krishna Defence, we are actively addressing critical indigenisation gaps by developing advanced materials, precision components, and sub-systems that were previously dependent on imports.

Our focus is on creating end-to-end manufacturing capabilities for complex defence equipment, reducing reliance on foreign suppliers while ensuring quality and reliability.

However, bottlenecks remain, including limited access to specialised raw materials, high-end testing infrastructure, and skilled manpower in niche technologies.

We continue to collaborate with research institutes, industry partners, and government agencies to bridge these gaps, accelerate technology transfer, and strengthen India’s self-reliance in defence manufacturing.

Can you quantify your expansion plans’ capital expenditure, new facilities, or tech investments in the next 12–18 months?

Ankur Shah: We are finishing our ongoing facility expansion at Halol in the current financial year. There are some plans to enhance downstream capabilities on alloy steel production facilities in the coming 12-18 months.

We are adding new capabilities to our defence composites and underwater systems portfolio. There will be commensurate expansion in the CAPEX towards fulfilment of those in the coming months.

Overall, we see a planned outlay of xx crores towards these initiatives. We expect the momentum in defence acquisitions to be high in this period, and we are positioned to respond with the necessary capability augmentation as and when various programmes mature.

What new tie-ups, MoUs, or international partnerships are being targeted, and how will they strengthen your position in the ammunition and weapons component segment?

Ankur Shah: We are working on operationalising our JV with VABO in the ongoing financial year. Recently, we have also taken a ToT from the National Institute of Oceanography, Goa, which has been a pioneer of underwater robotics in India.

In defence, there are three critical components: ammunition, weapons and the platforms to carry them. Through our existing partnerships with startups and MSMEs, viz Waveoptix, Planys and Conceptia, we further our explorations in design and building of multiple surface and underwater platforms for the maritime domain.

There are multiple opportunities with friendly country OEMs with whom we engage on various projects. The relevant details will be shared with our extended stakeholders at the opportune time.

Where do you see the biggest risk to the growth supply chain, regulatory delays, or something else, and how are you mitigating it?

Ankur Shah: One​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ of the most significant risks to our expansion is usually the disturbances in the supply chain, especially when it comes to getting specialised materials and components that are the most essential part of the defence manufacturing.

Delays caused by regulations can affect the timelines as well, but we consider them only as secondary problems.

In order to lessen these risks, we keep a diversified supplier network, we carry out local sourcing and indigenisation, and we are very active in inventory and production planning.

We also work closely with regulatory authorities to ensure that we are in compliance and that we can anticipate getting our approvals.

We can continue with our delivery schedules of a high standard and maintain the trust of our defence partners by doing it all together with strong project ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌management.

Ankur Shah’s leadership at Krishna Defence exemplifies Aatmanirbharta, transforming challenges into opportunities across defence and allied sectors, paving the way for India’s global competitiveness and sustainable growth in high-tech manufacturing.

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