China neighbor could soon develop unguided, laser-guided Thales’ 70-mm rocket systems

The collaboration aims to develop a robust local supply chain and position India as a strategic manufacturing and export hub for advanced rocket systems.ThalesA new partnership is set to support the production of unguided and laser-guided variants of Thales’ 70-mm rocket systems in South Asia. The new agreement has been signed between Thales and India’s Kalyani Strategic Systems Limited (KSSL). By combining Thales’ advanced rocket technologies and global market reach with KSSL’s established expertise in defence manufacturing, system integration and industrialisation, the companies will create an indigenous capability to address domestic requirements and support international opportunities. China neighbor to boost local manufacturing With this agreement, 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.“Thales has partnered with India for decades and this collaboration with KSSL is a testament to our deep and long-standing engagement with the local defence ecosystem,” said Ankur Kanaglekar, vice-president – India, Thales. “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 in critical defence technologies.” Thales’ 70-mm solutions support multi-role mission flexibility Thales’ 70-mm solutions support multi-role mission flexibility and multi-platform integration across air, land, and maritime domains, including rotary-wing platforms such as the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH-WSI) and the Light Combat Helicopter (LCH), helping enhance operational readiness and combat superiority. In the new era of asymmetric warfare, advanced variants of Thales’ 70mm rockets are increasingly well suited to counter-drone missions, delivering reliable and scalable effectiveness against evolving aerial threats, according to a press release.“By combining Thales’ proven technologies with Kalyani Strategic Systems’ advanced industrial ecosystem including our upcoming Energetics facility in Andhra Pradesh, this strategic partnership lays the foundation for indigenous production of next-generation rocket systems,” said Neelesh Tungar, CEO, Kalyani Strategic Systems. “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.”The collaboration reflects both companies’ commitment to developing sovereign defence capabilities in India through technology transfer, local value creation and skill development. It also reinforces India’s growing role as a trusted partner in the global defence supply chain, supporting the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India for the World as well as reinforcing the broader India-Belgium defence partnership, as per the release.Thales revealed that the alliance provides a framework for technology transfer, local production and distribution for both unguided and laser-guided 70-mm rocket systems and associated equipment.The collaboration aims to develop a robust local supply chain and position India as a strategic manufacturing and export hub for advanced rocket systems. The first fully assembled rocket produced in India is targeted for early 2027, according to details available.Get the latest in engineering, tech, space & science - delivered daily to your inbox.Prabhat, an alumnus of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, is a tech and defense journalist. While he enjoys writing on modern weapons and emerging tech, he has also reported on global politics and business. He has been previously associated with well-known media houses, including the International Business Times (Singapore Edition) and ANI.