Walchandnagar Industries is involved in India’s nuclear-capable Agni missiles and has supplied “critical” equipment for India’s first indigenous nuclear powered ballistic missile submarine, the INS Arihant.
Nuclear weapons
Walchandnagar Industries Limited (WIL) states it is “engaged in inherently sensitive and secretive missile, aerospace and nuclear programs of national importance.”[i] WIL has developed various processes, including welding technology, for manufacture of motor cases for Agni nuclear-capable missiles and has executed launcher projects with associated hydraulics and control systems for the Agni programme.[ii] Since the first Agni missile was tested in 1991, “WIL has been the only vendor to manufacture and supply motor cases for all the strategic missiles”.[iii] WIL continues to manufacture and supply components for the Agni series, including the Agni V missile, which is nearing deployment.[iv]
Walchandnagar also states it supplied “major critical components” for India’s first indigenous nuclear powered ballistic missile submarine, the INS Arihant, including the main propulsion gearbox, core nuclear components and vertically launched missile containers.[v] Sources indicate that the Arihant will primarily serve as a training vessel and technology demonstrator and will not be deployed for nuclear deterrence patrols as additional SSBNs come online.[vi] A second SSBN, the INS Arighat, was commissioned into service in August 2024 and a third submarine, the S4, was reportedly launched in November 2021.[vii] India is also developing the S5 class submarine.[viii]
[i] ‘Corporate presentation’, WALCHANDNAGAR INDUSTRIES LIMITED (2025), p. 7. Available at: WILCorporatePresentationdatedMay3,2025 (1).pdf.
[ii] Ibid, p. 12. See also ‘DEFENCE, AEROSPACE, MISSILES, WALCHANDNAGAR INDUSTRIES LIMITED (no date), pp. 4-5. Available at: https://walchand.com/download.php?flp=https://walchand.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/WIL-Brochure-Defence-Aerospace-Missile-Reduced.pdf (Accessed: 22 October 2025).
[iii] ‘DEFENCE, AEROSPACE, MISSILES, WALCHANDNAGAR INDUSTRIES LIMITED (no date), p. 5. Available at: https://walchand.com/download.php?flp=https://walchand.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/WIL-Brochure-Defence-Aerospace-Missile-Reduced.pdf (Accessed: 22 October 2025).
[iv] Ibid, p. 4. See also ‘Corporate presentation’, WALCHANDNAGAR INDUSTRIES LIMITED (2025), pp. 5 and 15. Available at: WILCorporatePresentationdatedMay3,2025 (1).pdf; Hans M. Kristensen, Matt Korda, Eliana Johns and Mackenzie Knight, ‘Indian Nuclear Weapons, 2024’, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, 80:5, 326-342, p. 331-333. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00963402.2024.2388470.
[v] ‘Corporate Presentation’, Walchannagar Industries (2015), pp. 11 and 18. Available at: Walchandnagar Industries Limited.
[vi] Hans M. Kristensen, Matt Korda, Eliana Johns and Mackenzie Knight, ‘Indian Nuclear Weapons, 2024’, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, 80:5, 326-342, p. 334. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00963402.2024.2388470.
[vii] Ibid, pp. 334-335.
[viii] Ibid, p. 335; Richard Sterk. ‘India Levels Up in Nuclear Submarines’. Defense Security Monitor, 1 May 2023. Available at: https://dsm.forecastinternational.com/2023/05/01/india-levels-up-in-undersea-nuclear-submarines/.
Last updated: 2026-06-08 16:55:38