India's Bharat Forge unit, France's Thales sign rocket systems alliance

Bengaluru witnessed a significant alliance between India’s Bharat Forge and France’s Thales on Thursday. The two entities agreed to establish advanced industrial capabilities for manufacturing 70-mm rocket systems in the country. India is the world's fifth-largest military spender and the second-largest arms importer after Ukraine, according to data from Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.

In recent years, India has been focusing on domestic manufacturing of defence equipment, either independently or in collaboration with foreign partners. The agreement between Bharat Forge and Thales aims to strengthen defence cooperation between the nations, as confirmed by both firms during Belgian Prime Minister's visit to India.

Thales’ 70-mm rocket systems can be deployed from air, ground, or naval applications platforms, potentially countering drones, as per the company's website. These systems are currently manufactured by its Belgian unit. The companies stated that the Indian Army already employs these rocket systems.

Thales will leverage its expertise, while India’s Kalyani Strategic Systems will contribute its local manufacturing and testing capabilities. Together, they aim to support the production of 70-mm rocket systems. The first fully assembled rocket expected to be produced in India is planned for early 2027.

Ankur Kanaglekar, Thales India Vice-President, expressed optimism about the collaboration, saying, "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."