India-Belgium Defence Pacts to Set Up Ammunition Production Line, Rocket Assembly and Naval Mine-Countermeasure Manufacturing
India and Belgium have signed 10 defence-industrial agreements during Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever's visit to New Delhi, involving 15 Belgian defence companies and their Indian partners. The pacts cover local manufacturing projects in ammunition production, rocket assembly and naval mine-countermeasure systems.
Belgium-based New Lachaussée has partnered with Tembo Classic Engineering to supply a complete production line for two ammunition calibres, along with tooling for two additional calibres. The facility will have a production capacity of approximately 100 million rounds a year, with the project valued at around €50 million. Installation and delivery are scheduled across 2028 and 2029.
Thales Belgium and Kalyani Strategic Systems will assemble 70mm rockets in India, with the first fully India-manufactured rocket expected in early 2027. Kalyani is also exploring a joint production centre with FN Herstal for small arms and counter-drone equipment.
Larsen & Toubro and Belgian autonomous-systems specialist Exail have signed an agreement for the Indian Navy's mine-countermeasure vessel programme, under which Exail will supply autonomous systems to detect, identify and neutralise naval mines. The initial programme covers 12 vessels, with the requirement potentially expanding to 59.
The agreements are aimed at moving bilateral defence ties from government-to-government cooperation toward industrial partnerships and production based in India, spanning ammunition, rockets, naval systems, counter-drone technology and sensors.