Union Home Minister Amit Shah underscored the significance of Uttar Pradesh’s burgeoning defense manufacturing sector, highlighting the BrahMos missiles produced in the state as a source of strategic advantage. Speaking at the inauguration of the fourth UP International Trade Show in Greater Noida, Shah emphasized the impact of these missiles, suggesting they are a cause for concern for neighboring Pakistan.
Shah detailed the influx of investments into the six nodes of the Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor, which includes Jhansi, Chitrakoot, Lucknow, Agra, Aligarh, and Kanpur. He cited the BrahMos Integration and Testing Facility in Lucknow, inaugurated in May 2025, as a critical component of the state’s defense manufacturing capabilities. This facility is responsible for the assembly, integration, and testing of the supersonic cruise missile, with the first batch completed in October 2025.
The Lucknow facility, established with an investment of approximately ₹300 crore and spread over nearly 200 acres, aims to bolster indigenous defense production and foster ancillary industries and skilled employment in the region. Additionally, Shah mentioned the production of AK-203 assault rifles in Amethi as an example of the state’s expanding defense manufacturing landscape.
Further, Shah highlighted Uttar Pradesh’s improving law-and-order situation and its growing industrial base as key factors attracting investment. He also pointed to the One District, One Product initiative as a driver of local industry expansion and employment opportunities for the state’s youth.
The UP International Trade Show 2026, occurring from September 25 to 29, provides a platform for manufacturers, MSMEs, exporters, artisans, startups, investors, and international buyers to connect and collaborate, further showcasing the state’s industrial potential.