Eager to become a key player in artillery systems, Pune-based Kalyani Group on Thursday showcased its 130-155 mm fully upgraded gun system at the Defexpo in New Delhi for which it has now applied to the Centre for testing permission.
Chairman of the group Baba N. Kalyani said with a host of artillery products his company wants to become a globally known artillery house. “But for that we would need to the accepted in India as only then will other countries accept us.”
Mr. Kalyani said the company has on its own developed the 155 mm gun, a model of which it had displayed at the last Defexpo in 2012. “We have urged the Ministry of Defence for testing facility and they are looking at it positively. Testing requires use of ammunition, which is only available with the government.”
Stating that a lot of experimentation is needed in production of defence equipment, Mr. Kalyani said the 155 mm gun was 100 per cent indigenous as all its components have been manufactured by or procured from Indian companies.
The company, which specialises in metallurgical knowhow, has in the last two decades scaled up its role in strategic sectors such as defence, aerospace, and nuclear businesses. At the defence exhibition, the group has also put on display its Bharat-52 and Garuda-105 artillery systems, its Mine Protected Vehicle and Light Tactical Vehicle, and various other products.
Mr. Kalyani said the group has recently forged a joint venture with Elbit Systems of Israel for advanced technology manufacturing of modern gun systems and mine protected vehicles in India. “With our partner we are competing in a number of important artillery programmes and are hopeful of bringing the best to the armed forces. The joint venture will undertake major manufacturing within the country,” he said.
The group has also signed an agreement with SAAB of Sweden to provide air defence solutions.
