Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd (GRSE) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Kalyani Strategic Systems Limited (KSSL) to jointly develop and promote indigenous solutions for advanced naval systems, unmanned platforms, and strategic maritime technologies.
The agreement was signed on March 05, 2026, marking a strategic collaboration aimed at strengthening India’s defence manufacturing ecosystem and expanding opportunities in domestic as well as international defence markets.
GRSE, a Government of India undertaking and a leading shipbuilding company, will combine its expertise in shipbuilding and maritime engineering with KSSL’s capabilities as a defence original equipment manufacturer (OEM). KSSL operates under Bharat Forge Limited and specialises in the design and manufacturing of advanced defence platforms and systems.
Under this partnership, both companies will work together on the development of several maritime and defence technologies. The collaboration will focus on ship propulsion and mechanical systems for naval and commercial vessels, integrated platform management systems, steering and stabilizer assemblies, deck equipment, and next-generation unmanned platforms.
A major area of focus will be the development of unmanned maritime technologies, including Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs) and Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs). These systems are increasingly becoming critical components of modern naval operations, enabling surveillance, reconnaissance, and strategic defence capabilities.
The partnership also aims to explore opportunities in global defence markets, allowing the two companies to jointly identify and pursue projects outside India in mutually agreed regions.
The MoU was signed by Commander Shantanu Bose (Retd.), Director (Shipbuilding) at GRSE, and Commodore Ajay Sharma (Retd.), Vice President – Marine Systems at Bharat Forge Limited. The signing ceremony was attended by Commodore P. R. Hari (Retd.), Chairman and Managing Director of GRSE, Baba Kalyani, Chairman and Managing Director of Bharat Forge, Niranjan Bhalerao, Director (Finance) at GRSE, and M. Venkatesh Murthy, Executive Director (Commercial Shipbuilding and Supply Chain Management) at GRSE, along with senior officials from both organisations.
This collaboration is expected to accelerate the development of indigenous defence technologies and support India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat vision. By combining advanced engineering capabilities with defence manufacturing expertise, the partnership aims to boost indigenisation, promote technological collaboration, and strengthen India’s capabilities in maritime and defence systems.