Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday, September 25, 2026, highlighted Uttar Pradesh’s growing defence manufacturing sector and said production of systems such as BrahMos missiles and AK-203 rifles showed the transformation taking place in the state.
Shah made his comments while inaugurating the fourth edition of Uttar Pradesh International Trade Show (UPITS) 2026 at the India Expo Centre and Mart in Greater Noida.
Amit Shah Highlights BrahMos production
Shah said BrahMos missiles produced in Uttar Pradesh were giving Pakistan “sleepless nights.” He was referring to the BrahMos facility in Lucknow, which is an integral part of the Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor.
BrahMos Integration and Testing Facility in Lucknow was inaugurated in May 2025. The facility works on assembly, integration and testing of the supersonic cruise missile. The first batch of BrahMos missiles made at Lucknow facility was flagged off in October 2025.
Shah framed the facility as an example of Uttar Pradesh's growing role in defence production.
AK-203 Rifles Made in Amethi
Shah also referred to the AK-203 assault rifles produced in Amethi. He said their production represented another major development in Uttar Pradesh's defence manufacturing ecosystem.
The AK-203 is being produced at Indo-Russian Rifles Private Limited facility in Amethi and is part of India’s efforts to increase domestic defence manufacturing.
Shah said the rifles were giving “sleepless nights” to Naxalites and terrorists, again framing the weapons production as an example of India's expanding defence capabilities.
Six Nodes of Defence Industrial Corridor
The Home Minister said investments were flowing into all six nodes of the Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor.
The six locations are Jhansi, Chitrakoot, Lucknow, Agra, Aligarh and Kanpur.
The corridor is to encourage defence manufacturing, attract investment and develop supporting industries within the state. Shah said investments were helping Uttar Pradesh develop capabilities across the defence sector.
UP International Trade Show 2026
The remarks came during the opening of UPITS 2026, which will be held from September 25 to 29 at the India Expo Centre and Mart in Greater Noida.
The five-day event is showcasing products and industries from Uttar Pradesh to domestic and international buyers. More than 1,000 Indian sellers, exporters, manufacturers and MSMEs are participating as well as overseas buyers from several countries have registered for the event.
The trade show includes defence, automobiles, electronics, engineering, agriculture, textiles, handicrafts, healthcare and information technology sectors.
Focus on Defence Manufacturing
Shah used the occasion to link Uttar Pradesh's industrial growth with the expansion of domestic defence manufacturing.
His comments come as the state seeks more investment through the Defence Industrial Corridor as well as other manufacturing projects.
