Under the pact, KSSL and FN Browning’s arm FN Herstal will evaluate the establishment of a dedicated production center in India and a Strategic Alliance / Joint Venture covering a range of FN Herstal defence solutions for the Indian market, spanning small arms, integrated weapon systems and counter-unmanned aerial system (C-UAS) solutions.
Under the terms of the MoU, the parties will jointly explore and assess the feasibility of potential cooperation projects aimed primarily at meeting the requirements of the Indian market.
The partnership brings together six decades of Indian advanced engineering and technology-led manufacturing at scale with more than 135 years of global leadership in small arms and integrated weapon systems, the company said in a statement.
The initiative is aligned with the Government of India’s Make in India policy. It reflects a shared intent to build capability inside the country through local manufacturing, technology cooperation and value creation, strengthening India’s defence industrial base and deepening domestic participation in defence procurement programmes, it said.
For the Indian armed forces, this translates into long-term security of supply and greater strategic autonomy in a category of systems that is central to operational readiness, the company said.
“By combining FN Herstal’s globally respected portfolio and decades of experience with KSSL’s engineering excellence and industrial scale, we are creating a strong platform to deliver advanced defence solutions from India – for India and global markets. Together, we aim to support India’s defence modernisation through locally manufactured, globally leading products while strengthening indigenous capabilities and advancing the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat,” Amit Kalyani, Vice Chairman and Joint Managing Director, Bharat Forge, said.
“India is a strategic partner for FN Herstal, and we are proud to take this important step with Kalyani Strategic Systems. This agreement reflects a shared ambition: to combine FN Herstal’s proven defence solutions, trusted by the world’s most demanding armed forces, with KSSL’s outstanding industrial capabilities to help build long-term sovereign capacity for the Indian Armed Force,” Julien Compere, Chief Executive Officer, FN Browning Group, said.
Together, we are committed to supporting the objectives of Make in India through local manufacturing, technology cooperation and the development of advanced defence capabilities, creating lasting value for India, its armed forces and our two companies, he said.
Kalyani Strategic Systems Limited (KSSL) has also signed a strategic alliance agreement with Thales to explore collaboration on both the unguided and laser-guided variants of Thales’ 70-mm rocket systems, which are already in use by the Indian Armed Forces.
As part of collaboration, Thales will leverage its long-standing partnership with India and contribute its global expertise in 2.75-inch / 70-mm rockets and launchers developed in Belgium, while KSSL will utilise its local manufacturing and testing facilities to support production and integration of components from Thales’ qualified supply chain, ensuring international quality standards.
The first fully assembled rocket produced in India is targeted for early 2027.
