Thales, Kalyani Group sign collaboration agreement
Thales Australia has signed a collaboration agreement with Kalyani Group for the design, development and manufacture of next generation weapons systems for defence customers in India and abroad, Thales announced on 8 April.
Under the terms of the agreement, Thales will compete for the upcoming close quarter battle carbine procurement for the Indian Ministry of Defence. Thales Australia will offer the F90CQB, a short-barrelled variant for the F90/EF-88 rifle, in partnership with Kalyani Group, which will manufacture the weapon in India.
The procurement is for up to 350,000 carbines, which will be delivered over a period of five years for the Indian armed forces.
Kevin Wall, VP vehicles and tactical systems, Thales, said: ‘We are very pleased to bring high-end technology from Australia and work in close collaboration with the Kalyani Group for the design and development of next generation defence systems including variants of the F90 assault rifle already in service with the Australian Defence Force.’
Kalyani Group is an auto ancillary and defence company of India.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Land Warfare
-
US DoD task force’s DroneHunter acquisition lays groundwork for Replicator 2 CUAS strategy
As the US Department of Defense looks to counter the growing threat of uncrewed aerial systems to improve homeland security, the DroneHunter acquisition could point to future commercial innovation.
-
Land forces review: Tanks, trucks and IFVs dominate but woes remain for Ajax
This year has begun with main battle tanks taking the lead while orders for large logistics and support vehicles continued from last year. Additionally, two of the British Army’s most significant contracted vehicle programmes, Ajax reconnaissance vehicle and Challenger 3 tank, continued to make news in January.
-
Canada looking to expedite purchase of armoured fighting vehicle and a new tank
Canada is improving its Leopard main battle tank fleet but before this is fully completed, it is expected to begin looking for new vehicles.
-
Layered protection: How air defence is adapting to rising drone and missile threats (podcast)
A surge in aerial threats – from advanced missiles to low-cost drones – is reshaping the way militaries approach air defence, driving demand for flexible, multi-layered solutions.
-
UK agrees parallel development and production process for British Army Challenger 3
In a bid to accelerate delivery of the British Army’s Challenger 3 main battle tank, which has just carried out its first crewed firings with the latest Rheinmetall 120mm L55A1 smoothbore gun, the UK has opted for an unconventional approach.