Kalyani Strategic Systems Ltd (KSSL), a wholly owned subsidiary of Bharat Forge Ltd, has signed a Strategic Alliance Agreement with Thales to establish an advanced industrial capability for 70-mm rocket systems in India. According to CNBC TV18 and Business Standard, the agreement was signed during the Belgian state visit to India and builds on the companies' decade-long relationship, aligning with India's Make in India vision. The partnership will explore collaboration on both unguided and laser-guided variants of Thales' 70-mm rocket systems, which are already in use by the Indian Armed Forces. Additionally, KSSL and FN Herstal (a wholly-owned subsidiary of FN Browning Group) signed a Memorandum of Understanding to pursue local manufacturing and industrial cooperation, covering small arms, integrated weapon systems and counter-unmanned aerial system (C-UAS) solutions.
The alliance combines Thales' expertise in 2.75-inch/70-mm rockets and launchers developed in Belgium with KSSL's local manufacturing and testing facilities to support production and integration of components from Thales' qualified supply chain. As reported by CNBC TV18 and Business Standard, the initiative provides a framework for technology transfer, local production and distribution of the rocket systems and associated equipment. The partnership with FN Herstal will evaluate the establishment of a dedicated production centre in India and a potential Strategic Alliance / Joint Venture covering small arms, integrated weapon systems and counter-unmanned aerial system solutions. The collaboration aims to develop a local supply chain and position India as a manufacturing and export hub for advanced rocket systems, with the first fully assembled rocket produced in India targeted for early 2027. According to Moneycontrol, Thales' 70-mm rocket systems can be fired from air, ground or naval applications platforms and could be used to counter drones, making them versatile for multiple military applications. Trusted by 70 armed forces across 55 countries, Thales' 70-mm solutions support multi-role mission flexibility and multi-platform integration across air, land, and maritime domains, including rotary-wing platforms such as the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH-WSI) and the Light Combat Helicopter (LCH), helping enhance operational readiness and combat superiority.
Bharat Forge Limited will host institutional investors for group discussions in Singapore on Tuesday, September 8, 2026. The capital goods manufacturer disclosed this schedule pursuant to Regulation 30(6) of the SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015. The management intends to engage with prospective investors on a group basis, with the company confirming that no unpublished price-sensitive information is proposed to be shared during the engagement. The disclosure was filed with both the Bombay Stock Exchange and the National Stock Exchange of India Limited, with the filing signed by Tejaswini Ramkrishna Chaudhari, Company Secretary and Compliance Officer, on September 3, 2026. This engagement comes as part of the company's broader international expansion strategy, particularly in Southeast Asian markets.
The partnerships are designed to enhance India's operational readiness and advance its vision of self-reliance in critical defence technologies. According to CNBC TV18 and Business Standard, the companies will combine Thales' combat-proven rocket technologies and global market reach with KSSL's manufacturing, integration and testing capabilities to support both Indian and global requirements. Mr. Amit Kalyani, Vice Chairman and Joint Managing Director of Bharat Forge, stated that the collaboration combines FN Herstal's globally respected portfolio with KSSL's engineering excellence and industrial scale to deliver advanced defence solutions from India for India and global markets. Mr. Julien Compere, CEO of FN Browning Group, emphasized that the agreement reflects a shared ambition to build long-term sovereign capacity for the Indian Armed Forces through local manufacturing and technology cooperation. The initiatives support Make in India for the World vision, positioning India as a globally competitive hub for advanced defence technologies while strengthening indigenous capabilities and advancing the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
Shares of Bharat Forge Ltd were last trading at ₹2,024.05 on BSE as compared to the previous close of ₹2,055.00, with 488,884 shares traded in over 3,401 trades. The stock hit an intraday high of ₹2,049.00 and intraday low of ₹2,006.00, with net turnover of ₹98.81 crore during the trading session. According to CNBC TV18, the stock movement reflects market reaction to the strategic defence partnership announcement. The decline in share price occurred despite the positive long-term implications of the defence manufacturing collaboration for Bharat Forge's diversification into the defence sector.
