BELFAST — India has struck an agreement with Belgium to locally produce Thales-made 70mm rockets, as part of a wide-ranging series of new industrial pacts signed off by the two nations.
The collection of 10 agreements, which also include ammunition production and naval mine-countermeasure systems teaming, were inked during a working visit to the Asia-Pacific nation by Belgian Prime Minister Bart de Wever, Minister of Defence Theo Francken and 15 Belgian defense companies.
Based on a collaboration between Thales Belgium and Kalyani Strategic Systems, the first 70mm rocket to be produced “entirely” in India, is expected in “early 2027,” said the Belgian defense ministry in a press notice. “The cooperation works both ways: India develops its own production capacity, while Thales gains an additional source of supply for international orders.”
The ministry added that the move will also strengthen European security of rocket supply.
Other key industrial ties include an ammunition production project valued at €50 million ($58 million) between Liège-based machinery manufacturer New Lachaussée and Tembo Classic Engineering in India. New Lachaussée will supply a full production line for two ammunition calibers, alongside tooling for two additional calibers, per the Belgian press notice. Overall, production capacity of approximately 100 million rounds per year is planned, with deliveries scheduled for 2028 and 2029.
Elsewhere, a partnership between Exail Belgium and Larsen & Toubro will see the European firm supply autonomous toolboxes used to detect, identify and neutralize naval mines to the Indian government.
“India is going to order about 12 mine countermeasure vessels, and maybe there’s an upwards potential of 59 of those vessels,” Karel-Jan Senave, deputy chief of cabinet for Belgium’s defense minister, told Breaking Defense. He added that the toolboxes will be built in India.
Exail is also under contract to jointly provide the Belgian and Dutch navies with 12 Mine Countermeasure Vessels (MCMVs).
Elsewhere, the Anglo Belgian Corporation (ABC) is in discussions with Kirloskar Oil Engines that could lead to ABC offering its expertise in support of Kirloskar building the first fully Indian-produced 6MV marine diesel engine.
Regarding aviation links, Flemish firm Sol.One and DGVK Enterprises are working together in an effort to introduce an armed quadplane drone designed to attack supply chains known as Saboteur — as well as low-cost drone interceptors dubbed Buzzkill and Hitchhiker — to the Indian market. The Belgian press notice made clear that the Indian armed forces have requested information about the various aircraft and want to test them. “If those tests prove successful, this could quickly lead to a large-scale order,” it added.
In addition to these individual partnerships, a cooperation agreement between the Belgian Security & Defence Industry (BSDI) and the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM) was also signed. “This will make it easier for our companies to participate in co-development under the Make in India initiative,” declared Brussels.
“The scale is enormous. India is modernising one of the largest armed forces in the world,” Francken said. “For companies whose technology gains access to these programmes, this can quickly translate into major orders and major contracts. The agreement between BSDI and SIDM opens that door.”
Beyond industrial matters, Brussels and New Delhi also signed a Letter of Intent relating to “structural cooperation” between the two sides.
This includes training, exchanges between officers, research and development, joint exercises and maritime security.
Rajnath Singh, India’s defense minister said on X today that multiple MoUs and contracts were signed “towards leveraging Belgian technology together with Indian skill and scale.”