Bharat Forge Limited Secures Landmark ₹1,661.9 Crore CQB Carbine Contract from Ministry of Defence!
Bharat Forge Limited (BFL) has achieved a major milestone in India’s defence manufacturing landscape after being awarded the largest-ever small arms contract by the Ministry of Defence. Valued at ₹1,661.9 crore, the contract covers the supply of 255,128 Close Quarter Battle (CQB) Carbines chambered in 5.56 × 45 mm for the Indian Army. The agreement was formally signed on 30 December 2025 and will be executed over a period of five years, marking a significant boost to indigenous defence production under the Government of India’s self-reliance initiatives.
The CQB Carbine is a compact, modern infantry weapon specifically designed for close-quarter combat operations, offering enhanced manoeuvrability, accuracy, and reliability in urban and high-intensity environments. Importantly, the weapon has been designed, developed, and manufactured entirely in India under the Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured (IDDM) category. The programme represents a successful collaboration between the Armament Research & Development Establishment (ARDE), the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), and Bharat Forge Limited, highlighting the growing maturity of India’s defence R&D and manufacturing ecosystem.
This contract further strengthens Bharat Forge’s position as a key private-sector partner to the Indian Armed Forces. Through the order, Bharat Forge and its wholly owned defence subsidiary, Kalyani Strategic Systems Limited (KSSL), continue to deepen their role in supplying domestically produced, mission-critical defence equipment. The scale and strategic importance of the CQB Carbine order underscore growing confidence in Indian private industry’s ability to deliver complex, safety-critical weapons systems at scale.
Bharat Forge’s expanding defence portfolio aligns closely with India’s broader push to reduce dependence on imported military hardware and build a robust domestic defence industrial base. Over the past several years, the company has invested heavily in advanced manufacturing, metallurgy, precision machining, and system integration capabilities to support defence and aerospace programmes. The CQB Carbine contract is expected to further strengthen in-house competencies while creating long-term production visibility and skilled employment opportunities.
Founded in 1961 and headquartered in Pune, Bharat Forge is part of the Kalyani Group and is globally recognised for its leadership in forging and advanced manufacturing. The company operates across automotive, industrial, aerospace, defence, oil and gas, railways, and construction sectors, supplying safety-critical components to leading OEMs worldwide. With operations spanning India, Europe, North America, and Asia, Bharat Forge combines large-scale manufacturing with strong design and engineering expertise.
Through Kalyani Strategic Systems Limited, Bharat Forge has steadily built a comprehensive defence manufacturing portfolio encompassing small arms, artillery systems, armoured platforms, and advanced defence solutions, many of which are designed and produced domestically. The CQB Carbine contract represents a defining moment in this journey, reinforcing Bharat Forge’s role as a cornerstone of India’s indigenous defence manufacturing ambitions and a trusted supplier to the Indian Army.
