Kalyani Strategic Systems, FN Herstal explore joint venture for defence manufacturing in India
The proposed partnership could establish a dedicated production centre in India for small arms, integrated weapon systems and counter-UAS solutions, combining Belgian technology with KSSL’s manufacturing capabilities.
Amit Kalyani, Vice Chairman and Joint Managing Director of Bharat Forge, Julien Compere, CEO of FN Browning Group and others at the signing of MoU in New Delhi on Saturday.
NEW DELHI: Kalyani Strategic Systems Ltd. (KSSL), the wholly owned defence subsidiary of Bharat Forge Ltd., and Belgian defence company FN Herstal have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to explore local manufacturing and industrial cooperation for India’s defence requirements.
The agreement provides for evaluating a dedicated production centre in India as well as a potential Strategic Alliance or Joint Venture covering small arms, integrated weapon systems and counter-unmanned aerial system (C-UAS) solutions.
The proposed cooperation is aligned with the government’s Make in India policy and is aimed at building greater domestic capability through local manufacturing, technology cooperation and value creation. The companies said the partnership could strengthen India’s defence industrial base, increase domestic participation in defence procurement and provide the armed forces with greater security of supply and strategic autonomy.
The partnership combines KSSL’s more than six decades of engineering, metallurgy and advanced manufacturing experience with FN Herstal’s more than 135 years of expertise in small arms and integrated weapon systems. KSSL operates across land, marine and unmanned defence domains, while FN Herstal specialises in small-calibre weapons, ammunition and integrated weapon systems for military and law-enforcement users.
Amit Kalyani, Vice Chairman and Joint Managing Director of Bharat Forge, said the partnership would combine FN Herstal’s technology and product portfolio with KSSL’s engineering and industrial scale to deliver advanced defence solutions from India for both Indian and global markets. He said the initiative would support defence modernisation while strengthening indigenous capabilities and the Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision.
Julien Compere, CEO of FN Browning Group, described India as a strategic partner for FN Herstal and said the agreement reflects a shared ambition to build long-term sovereign capacity for the Indian Armed Forces through local manufacturing, technology cooperation and advanced defence capabilities.
The MoU does not constitute a final joint venture or production agreement. The two companies will first jointly explore and assess the feasibility of potential cooperation projects, primarily aimed at meeting requirements in the Indian market.
The agreement comes as India seeks to expand indigenous production of defence equipment and reduce dependence on overseas supply chains. The proposed inclusion of counter-UAS capabilities alongside small arms and integrated weapon systems also points to a broader manufacturing and technology partnership rather than a conventional arms supply arrangement.
