With an aim to save foreign currency and to reduce dependence on imports, Pune based Kalyani Group showcased its artillery systems completely manufactured in India.
Kalyani Group Chairman & Managing Director, Baba N Kalyani said "The objective of this is to help the country reduce its dependence on imports and save foreign exchange." "We have spent Rs 100 crore in the last two years", Kalyani Group Executive Director, Amit B Kalyani told The Pioneer said when asked about the investment size.
"Our aim is to go global and want to become first artillery house," he added. However, he refused to divulge its orders details and said all are global customers. The $2.5 billion Kalyani Group’s flagship firm Bharat Forge is the world’s largest forging firm with manufacturing facilities spread across India, Germany and Sweden. It is also a leading auto component manufacturer.
The group operates its defence business as a separate entity. It has inked joint venture with Israel’s Elbit Systems for manufacturing modern gun systems and mine protected vehicles in the country. It has also signed a pact with SAAB of Sweden to provide air defence solutions. "We are determined to scale up our contribution to the armed forces and play a vital role in the defence sector by providing technology-intensive weapon systems. The evelopment of indigenously-built howitzer gun is a testimony to that," Kalyani said.
"Testing is with the Government. We have requested the Government to provide us the testing facility and I think they are looking at it very positively and I am sure some solution will emerge," he added. The company has showcased Bharat -52, Garuda- 105, 130- 155 fully upgraded gun systems, shells rockets and bombs for the defence forces.