日本語
한국어
Polski
Deutsch
Nederlands
Español
Français
Português
Italiano
Svenska
繁體中文
Dansk
// DOSSIER — belgium-india-partner-local-70mm-rocket-assembly-defense
Belgium and India Partner on Local 70mm Rocket Assembly and Defense Agreements
REL_TIME: 05 Sep 2026 21:42Z · LANG: EN
India and Belgium have signed 10 major defense industry agreements during Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever's state visit to New Delhi. The pacts span local manufacturing, ammunition production, counter-drone technology, and naval mine-countermeasure systems, aiming to bolster domestic defense capabilities under India's 'Make in India' and 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' initiatives.
// Background
The agreements were finalized during a high-profile working visit to New Delhi by Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever, Defense Minister Theo Francken, and a delegation of 15 Belgian defense companies on September 3, 2026. The engagement represents a strategic shift from traditional foreign equipment sales toward deep industrial integration, joint development, and local manufacturing in India.
// Key Developments
- Thales Belgium and Kalyani Strategic Systems Limited (KSSL) partnered to locally produce unguided and laser-guided 70mm rocket systems, targeting the first fully assembled India-produced rocket by early 2027.
- New Lachaussée and Tembo Classic Engineering agreed to a €50 million ($58 million) project to build an ammunition production line with a capacity of 100 million rounds per year, delivering from 2028 to 2029.
- Exail Belgium and Larsen & Toubro teamed up to supply autonomous naval mine-detection toolboxes for the Indian Navy.
- A broader framework agreement was signed between the Belgian Security & Defence Industry (BSDI) and the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM) to facilitate joint development.
- Brussels and New Delhi signed a Letter of Intent for structural cooperation, including officer exchanges, joint exercises, and maritime security.
// Timeline
-
Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi meet in New Delhi, signing 10 bilateral defense industry agreements.
-
Target date for the rollout of the first fully India-produced 70mm rocket system from the Thales-KSSL partnership.
-
Scheduled delivery period for ammunition production lines established between New Lachaussée and Tembo Classic Engineering.
// Perspectives
[Belgian Government and Industry]
Eager to expand the global footprint of its defense sector, secure supply chain resilience, and gain entry into massive Indian military modernization programs through technology transfer and joint industrial partnerships.
[Indian Government and Industry]
Committed to advancing domestic defense manufacturing capabilities under the 'Make in India' and 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' frameworks, substituting direct equipment imports with indigenous production, technology collaboration, and export hub creation.
// Quotes
“The cooperation works both ways: India develops its own production capacity, while Thales gains an additional source of supply for international orders.”
“The scale is enormous. India is modernising one of the largest armed forces in the world. For companies whose technology gains access to these programmes, this can quickly translate into major orders and major contracts.”
“By combining our combat-proven 70mm 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.”
“Beyond strengthening the operational readiness of the Indian Armed Forces, it advances the vision of ‘Make in India for the World,’ positioning India as a globally competitive hub for advanced defence technologies.”
