Baba Kalyani
Chairman & Managing Director, Bharat Forge

In a significant technology collaboration for achieving the Next-Generation Artillery Gun Platforms for the Indian military, India’s Bharat Forge has tied up with a global lead, in its quest for advanced and best-in-class gun systems. The tech collaboration took place with US-based AM General & Mandus Group partner for the artillery gun platforms with Advanced Recoil Technology. AM General is a leader in Engineering, manufacturing, and high-tech support in specialised vehicles for military and commercial families and a leading manufacturer of light tactical iconic HUMVEE while Mandus Group is a well-known industry leader in Artillery Solutions, Logistic, Support and repair, which holds the IP of unique advanced recoil technology and are a leading developer of revolutionary Soft Recoil Based mobile weapon platform.

According to the statement from the senior official from Kalyani Strategic Systems Ltd (KSSL) which is a 100 per cent subsidiary of Bharat Forge, the collaboration is not only for the Indian armed forces but it aims to reach out to the global markets. KSSL and AM General & Mandus Group aim to co-develop and Co-produce advanced Artillery Platforms based on Advanced Recoil Technology. John Chadbourne, Executive Vice President, Chief Business Officer, AM General and Jitendra Patil, Head of Artillery Systems, Bharat Forge inked the deal in Arlington in the US over the range of tech assimilation and co-development which also puts forth the higher R&D spend in next-generation artillery systems.

The light Artillery with Greater Firepower

As the battlefield changes with near-peer adversaries, there is increasing demand for modern light artillery systems with enhanced firepower, precision strike, tactical mobility, and command & control capabilities.

In the past, the KSSL has been focusing on areas like Artillery systems, Protected Vehicles, Armoured Vehicles Upgrade, Ammunition, Missiles and Air Defence solutions, and Defence Electronics. In a recent development, the KSSL has diversified in Aerospace, building upon its strong foundation of metallurgy for aerostructures across the systems and platforms for the Indian Air Force.

How will it unfold in addressing the co-developing with new design and customisation?

“This collaboration is targeted to address the requirement of modern armies of the world in an evolving combat scenario equipping them with compact, robust, lightweight, ruggedised, mobile, all-weather, allterrain 105mm and 155mm next-generation artillery gun platforms,” remarks the official involved in the collaboration.

These Next-Gen artillery platforms will feature disruptive technology, responsive and survivable fires, transportability, and added lethality, and will optimise crew size due to fewer logistics requirements. The 105mm and 155mm howitzers to be offered will deliver firepower and mobility while remaining lightweight and modular.

This is also important in the overall success story of India’s private defence entity, breaking into the higher technology domain in search of advanced solutions for the Indian Armed Forces. Moreover, this also marks the 10th anniversary of the Government of India’s ‘Make in India’ programme which has seen some reasonable success in addressing the heavy import of military items through indigenisation.

The Defence Indigenisation: Policy Thrust for Private Industry

In fact, the government’s policy thrust in reducing the imports spread equally to domestic private players alongside the existing DPSUs across India. The policy thrust for indigenisation and self-reliance in defence through the ‘Make in India’ initiative, resulted in significant defence production and exports as in 2024, India’s defence production reached ₹74,739 crore. Out of this, private sector defence companies accounted for 22 per cent of the total production, valued at ₹16,411 crore. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) further listed a series of items through a nationwide notification which calls out for the indigenisation of hundreds of sub-systems and parts.

Several private players played key parts despite the initial challenges and according to the MoD’s reports, it has saved a significant portion of revenue for India. At the same time, it allows the domestic players to showcase their tech-worthiness and some cases, to come up with advanced solutions at much lesser cost, and reducing the delivery timeline. Moreover, as the defence secretary, pointed out to the author, it is more about truly a giant step towards self-reliance and the ability to co-develop and produce in India.

Out of 4,666 defence items, including assemblies, sub-assemblies, raw materials, critical spares, and components earmarked for indigenisation, 2,920 have already been indigenised. Additionally, about 40 to 50 licenses for defence production were issued annually.

With other original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) of India in the fray, KSSL took the lead in designing and developing new equipment, leveraging on its position as the market leader in the forging and legacy of technology absorption.

Building on this, the KSSL has developed over 10 different platforms for Artillery in the categories of Mounted Gun Systems, Towed Gun Systems & Ultra-Light gun Systems for 155mm and 105mm with various calibres so far.

Bharat Forge’s Baba Kalyani explained that “Bharat Forge is rapidly emerging as a leading developer and manufacturer of advanced artillery platforms for the world markets. This strategic collaboration aims to co-develop and co-produce the most versatile and innovative weapon systems.”

While the companies are geared toward indigenisation, it is also important to highlight that defence is a sector which is so dynamic in terms of technology that it warrants a heavy investment in technology for the rapidly changing and evolving warfare with requires cutting-edge solutions. This requires not only assimilating the existing know-how but also planning out the solutions based on futuristic military technologies.

Interestingly, the cooperation does talk about the global market and opens it further for the innovating Indian OEMs like Bharat Forge.

Export arena

What could be the export potential in addition to the Indian defence market?

Globally, defence is among the most competitive areas one can enter which is so far dominated by a few countries—largely confined to the USA, and EU with China and Korea vying to increase its stakes. KSSL received the prestigious export order worth $155.5 million for Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS) and MArG – BR systems to a non-conflict zone. In August 2023, KSSL exported the first indigenously designed, developed, and manufactured artillery system from India. The senior official also points out the potential orders for ammunition empties (shells) with capacity booked for the next 2-3 years. “As a matter of policy, all defence exports are to non-conflict zones”, Official adds.

“AM General and Mandus Group are looking forward to exploring this collaboration with Kalyani and Bharat Forge to ultimately deliver advanced mobile artillery capabilities,” said John Chadbourne, AM General EVP for Business Development. On such potential, John suggests: “A partnership like this is a testament to our company’s commitment to be responsive and dynamic as the battlefield evolves.”

Collaborative efforts have enabled India to expand its defence exports to over 75 countries. India’s defence exports surged to ₹21,083 crore in FY2024, demonstrating a growth of 32.5 per cent compared to ₹15,920 crore achieved in the previous fiscal year.

The Ministry of Defence aims to triple annual defence production to ₹three lakh crore and double defence exports to ₹50,000 crore by FY2029. From here, with the ambition of positioning India as a global manufacturing hub, the government intends to manufacture advanced systems like aero engines and gas turbines in the country over the next five years. For Bharat Forge, it is about embracing high-performance, innovative, safe & critical components and solutions to the Indian Armed Forces, where technology remains at the core as Baba Kalyani echoes.