Bengaluru, India, Feb. 22, 2026 (NAN) India’s push for defence self-reliance is gathering pace as SSS Defence, the country’s only private-sector original equipment manufacturer (OEM) of small arms, positions itself for deeper penetration of the global arms market.
Chief Executive Officer of the company, Vivek Krishnan, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
The CEO spoke on the sidelines of an interaction with a delegation of foreign defence journalists visiting India on a Familiarisation Capsule organised by the Ministries of Defence and External Affairs.
Krishnan said the firm had distinguished itself by designing, manufacturing, testing and certifying its weapon systems entirely in-house, with full ownership of intellectual property.
He explained that India historically lacked a strong private gun-making culture, unlike countries such as the United States or Brazil where civilian shooting traditions helped nurture private weapons manufacturers.
“India has never had widespread private gun production; most weapons were clustered within the military and armed forces. So it was not surprising that private-sector manufacturing came relatively late,” he said.
According to him, policy reforms around 2016 opened the door for new entrants, prompting the company to invest heavily in indigenous design and production rather than relying on foreign licensing.
“What we have built over the last decade is a complete intellectual property backbone—from pistols to sniper rifles—and we continue to expand into higher calibres,” he added.
Krishnan noted that the company leveraged advanced engineering, artificial intelligence and India’s dense manufacturing ecosystem around Bengaluru to bridge what he described as a century-long experience gap with established global arms producers.
Within a 20-kilometre radius of its facility, he said, the firm works with about 40 specialised suppliers, while retaining production of critical components in-house to maintain quality and interoperability.
“India offers a very strong manufacturing ecosystem, and we have built a network model that allows us to scale while keeping tight control over core technologies,” he said.
The CEO disclosed that most international interest in the company’s products comes from countries seeking to modernise their infantry and police forces, with engagements typically initiated through defence ministry channels or competitive tenders.
He revealed that the firm had already exported sniper rifles and ammunition to Armenia and was in discussions with several countries on possible technology transfer or licensed production arrangements.
“We are open to technology transfer where it is commercially viable and supported by sufficient volumes,” he said.
Krishnan added that the company was also expanding into ammunition production through a collaboration with CBC in India, noting that controlling both weapons and ammunition supply strengthened operational reliability for customers.
On funding, he said: “SSS Defence benefits from the backing of a manufacturing group with over 70 years of industrial experience, enabling it to rely largely on internal financing.”
It is believed that the rise of companies like SSS Defence underscores India’s deliberate strategy to deepen private-sector participation in defence production and emerge as a credible exporter to friendly nations.
NAN reports that the company produces weapons such as Sniper Rifles: 338 Saber (1,500m range) and Viper (7.62x51mm); Assault Rifles and Carbines: P72 (7.62x39mm), M72 (5.56x45mm), and Raptor (.300 Blackout).
Others are; Submachine Guns: G72 SMG/CSMG (9x19mm) among others like AK rifle upgrades, ammunition, and weapon optics. (NAN)
