Saudi Arabia has reportedly approached India with an urgent request for an additional 10,000 rounds of 155mm artillery ammunition as security concerns across the Middle East continue to intensify.

The reported request comes against the backdrop of escalating regional tensions and the ongoing conflict involving Iran-backed Houthi forces in Yemen, which has heightened demand for artillery ammunition and other military supplies across the region.

According to the information available, the proposal is currently under consideration by Indian authorities and no final decision has yet been announced regarding the additional supply.

The development follows a major breakthrough in defence cooperation between India and Saudi Arabia in 2024, when state-owned Munitions India Limited (MIL) secured a landmark export contract worth approximately $225 million for the supply of artillery ammunition to the Kingdom. The agreement was signed during the World Defence Show in Riyadh and represented one of the largest overseas ammunition orders secured by the Indian manufacturer.

The earlier deal highlighted the growing strategic relationship between New Delhi and Riyadh in the defence sector, with both countries steadily expanding cooperation in military technology, defence production and security-related initiatives.

Saudi Arabia has increasingly sought to strengthen its military preparedness in response to evolving regional security challenges, particularly threats linked to missile and drone attacks originating from conflict zones in the region. Additional artillery ammunition stocks are viewed as a key component of maintaining operational readiness under such conditions.

For India, the reported request reflects the rapidly expanding international demand for domestically produced 155mm ammunition. Over the past several years, the country has significantly increased indigenous production capacity while pursuing ambitious defence export goals.

Indian-made artillery ammunition has attracted growing interest from international customers due to competitive pricing, expanding production volumes and efforts to improve manufacturing quality and reliability. As a result, India has emerged as an increasingly important supplier in the global ammunition market.

If approved, the proposed order would further strengthen defence-industrial ties between India and Saudi Arabia while reinforcing India's position as a major exporter of artillery ammunition to friendly nations across the Middle East and beyond.

Agencies