Bharat Forge’s defence arm has partnered with France-based Thales to establish an industrial capability for manufacturing 70-mm rocket systems in India, strengthening the country’s push towards domestic defence production.
The agreement was signed during the visit of the Belgian Prime Minister to India and is aimed at deepening defence cooperation while developing local capabilities for critical defence technologies.
Under the partnership, Thales will contribute its expertise in 70-mm rocket systems, while Kalyani Strategic Systems Limited (KSSL), Bharat Forge’s defence unit, will bring its local engineering, manufacturing and testing capabilities.
The companies expect the first fully assembled rocket produced in India by early 2027.
Thales’ 70-mm rocket systems can be deployed from air, ground and naval platforms and can also be used for counter-drone applications, according to the company. The systems are manufactured by Thales’ Belgian unit and are already used by the Indian Army.
The partnership comes as India continues to increase its focus on domestic defence manufacturing, either through indigenous development or collaborations with international defence companies.
India is the 5th-largest military spender globally and the 2nd-largest arms importer, according to data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. The country has increasingly encouraged local production to strengthen defence capabilities and reduce dependence on overseas suppliers.
Ankur Kanaglekar, Vice-President, Thales India, said, “By combining our combat-proven 70-mm rocket expertise from Belgium with KSSL’s engineering and manufacturing strengths, we are co-creating capabilities that will enhance India’s operational readiness and advance its vision of self-reliance in critical defence technologies,”
The agreement brings together Thales’ experience in developing and manufacturing 70-mm rocket systems with KSSL’s domestic engineering and production capabilities.
The planned local production is expected to add to India’s ability to manufacture and test such defence systems within the country while supporting its broader objective of building self-reliance across critical military technologies.
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