Bharat Forge Limited (BFL) is a $3.5 billion turnover Kalyani Group company that has successfully evolved and transformed a traditional metal forge and automobile parts company into a strategic player within global aerospace ecosystems for manufacturing and production. Recently, there have been significant investments and partnerships within domains like engine components, unmanned aerial vehicles, and India’s AMCA program for an Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft.
Background: Bharat Forge and Indian Aerospace Policy
Bharat Forge was founded in 1961 and has traditionally specialized in the manufacture of forgings for the auto and industrial sectors. Over the past decade, the firm has entered new markets such as defense and aerospace, utilizing its core competencies of metallurgy, precision machines, and large-scale manufacturing capabilities. This change in direction aligns with emerging national priorities outlined in India’s ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative, which covers several key sectors such as aerospace and defense technologies.
The Government of India has opened cutting-edge defense and aerospace projects for participation by the private sector, reflecting a paradigm shift from the complete control exercised by the public sector until now. This includes companies such as Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, HAL. New reforms have been made possible for the participation and dominance of the private sector in aircraft projects such as the construction of fighter planes, engine building, and unmanned vehicles.
Strategic Partnerships and Aerospace Manufacturing Leadership
Bharat Forge has built a strategic and expanding collaboration with Rolls Royce Plc, a leading manufacturer of aero-engines globally:
In October 2025, a deal was signed with the company Bharat Forge for the production of fan blades for precision parts for its Pearl 700 and Pearl 10X jet engines, which power business jets and regional aircraft. The agreement builds on an earlier contract commenced in 2020.
Bharat Forge successfully developed and supplied its first zero-defect fan blade for Pearl 700 in 2024, which marks yet another prominent milestone for Bharat Forge, showcasing their precision manufacturing capabilities at par with international quality standards in the aerospace industry.
The Pearl 10X is considered one of the most modern aircraft engine designs for business jets globally, using Rolls-Royce's most efficient Advance2 engine core, producing thrust levels of more than 18,000 lb, and currently only being manufactured in India by Bharat Forge, till 2025, which signifies its importance in the global aerospace supply chain.
This agreement also supports the intent announced by Rolls-Royce to double its sourcing from India by 2030, enhancing India’s position as a global manufacturing hub.
The other cornerstone of Bharat Forge's aerospace strategy is its alliance with Liebherr-Aerospace & Transportation SAS:
Announced in February 2025, this alliance proposes to set up a world-class aerospace manufacturing hub in Pune, India.
The facility will house an advanced ring mill and precision machining capability for landing gear structures and other high tolerance aero-structures needed on commercial and defense aircraft.
This capacity expansion enhances BFL's competitiveness in both indigenous and export supply chains for critical aircraft parts, with direct alignment with global industry demands for lightweight, high-strength components.
Indigenous Aerospace Products and Capabilities
Bharat Forge’s aerospace division is engaged in multiple collaborations to foster domestic UAV and unmanned system capabilities:
- Agreement with UK-based Windracers Limited: Signed at DSEI UK 2025, this MoU focuses on deploying and localizing the Windracers ULTRA UAV platform in India, including trials and future deployment across defense and civil applications.
- The Windracers ULTRA features multi-hour endurance flight capabilities and is designed for operations in diverse and challenging geographies, aligning with India’s tri-service logistics needs.
- Strategic MoU with VEDA Aeronautics: This collaboration focuses on jointly developing advanced unmanned aerial vehicles and aerial weapon systems, with Bharat Forge supplying indigenously produced micro-jet engines for such platforms.
- Bharat Forge’s current portfolio includes jet engines with thrust ratings of 40 kgf and 45 kgf in serial production, and ongoing development of higher-thrust engines (up to 400 kgf) for more capable UAV platforms.
These engagements illustrate Bharat Forge’s intent to evolve beyond component supply into joint creation of aerospace platforms and systems, a significant expansion of its technological footprint.
At the Paris Airshow 2025, Bharat Forge signed an MoU with French aerospace firm Turgis Gaillard to offer the AAROK medium-altitude long endurance (MALE) UAV for Indian defense applications. This underscores both international collaboration and pursuit of Make in India objectives in advanced unmanned systems.
Participation in India’s Indigenous Fighter Aircraft Development (AMCA)
The Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft, a programme initiated by India’s government in its effort to design and develop a fifth-generation stealth technology aircraft for future air force needs, is considered one of India’s most ambitious defence aerospace projects to date. The programme is aimed at developing a stealth technology aircraft through indigenous design and development phases.
The recent policy developments have facilitated participation by private sector players in aircraft development and production, transcending the realm of only public sector participation.
Multiple reports have indicated that the company, along with fellow industry players like BEML Ltd and Data Patterns (India) Ltd, are part of a consortium that seeks to participate in the execution phase of the AMCA, as indicated by the recent signing of a Tripartite MoU in late 2025, following an Expression of Interest (EoI) by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA). Nevertheless, BFL has itself clarified that apart from their involvement in this bid and the MoU process, nothing has been disclosed as regards formal contract awards and government commitments, apart from basic market disclosures obligations.
This emerging industry configuration, where major private firms lead in airframe and system development, marks a structural shift in Indian aerospace governance and industrial participation.
Economic and Market Outlook for Bharat Forge’s Aerospace Segment
Bharat Forge has communicated its aspirations for high growth in its aerospace business, aiming for growth of up to 50 % year-on-year in aerospace revenues through new orders and capacity enhancements.
These expectations are in line with the prevailing global trends, with increasing demand for various elements used in the aerospace sector, especially with the impending boom in the commercial aviation sector and the defense sector worldwide.
BFL’s aerospace division has managed to bag contracts worth roughly ₹300 crore (~36 million USD) for unmanned and ISR machines as part of India’s Emergency Procurement - VI defence procurement system. These include machines like Omega One, Omega Nine, Bayonet, and Cleaver machines for diverse purposes.
Apart from business segments, another noteworthy instance of industrial momentum within India involves the government’s approval of a proposed integrated aerospace and defense manufacturing complex worth ₹17,250 crore in Odisha. Components are manufactured by Bharat Forge and its associated subsidiaries.
Challenges, Risks, and Strategic Considerations
While high-precision aerospace manufacturing involves strict quality control and certification standards such as AS9100 or FAA/EASA requirements, it appears that Bharat Forge’s collaborations reflect their competency but that expansion to wider platform production capability may be technologically challenging.
Moving from being a component supplier to a systems integrator like AMCA demands investment in R&D, avionics integration capabilities, and government support. There also has to be competition from the established global OEM and defense players.
Although such collaborations, such as with Rolls-Royce, imply integration into global value chains, geopolitical developments and disruptions in value chains, such as scarcity of resources or export restrictions, may affect longer-term engagements and sequencing.
Strategic Implications and Conclusion
Moreover, the aerospace journey of Bharat Forge reflects the Indian industrial sector's overall paradigm shift towards technology incorporation and self-sufficiency in the defence sector. With global alliances and capacity building in cutting-edge defence schemes such as the AMCA programme, this organisation is all set to become a leading player in the private sector in the Indian aerospace sector.
From an empirical perspective, it is also consistent with the growth patterns of the global aerospace market and corresponding defense policy changes in India and its strategy of providing an opportunity for home-grown enterprises to get integrated both domestically and globally.
In conclusion, the increasing involvement of Bharat Forge, starting with specific parts of engines, followed by UAV and, in possible futures, fighter planes, indicates that the growth has been in several layers or levels of involvement. The key to success will be to sustain investments in technology, quality, and adherence to short project completion cycles in defense contracts.
Sources:
Rolls-Royce Partners with Bharat Forge for Engine Parts Production
Bharat Forge, Liebherr collaborate on advanced aerospace manufacturing
Bharat Forge, Windracers sign MoU to expand UAV operations in India
Bharat Forge and Liebherr collaborate on advanced aerospace manufacturing
Bharat Forge And VEDA Aeronautics Forge Alliance For Advanced UAV And Aerial Weapon Development
Kalyani ties up with BEML, Data Patterns for AMCA stealth jet race
India Opens Fifth-Gen Fighter Program to Private Industry, Sidelines HAL
Cabinet nod to Rs 17,250cr integrated manufacturing complex
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BASUNDE, Rohini（Global PR & Reporter ）
Based in India, Rohini works as a Reporter and Global PR professional,
leveraging her strong background in culture, society, and media studies.
Her work primarily involves article writing and managing global public relations campaigns.
Her core areas of interest are multiculturalism, intercultural understanding, and cross-cultural communication,
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