Bharat Forge Limited has secured a contract valued at INR 16.62 billion from the Ministry of Defence for the supply of close-quarter battle (CQB) carbines to the Indian Army. The contract, signed on 30 December 2025, covers the manufacture and delivery of 255,128 CQB carbines chambered in 5.56 x 45 mm calibre, with execution scheduled over a five-year period.
The order represents the company’s largest small arms contract to date. The carbines will be supplied under the Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured (IDDM) category, aligning with domestic defence manufacturing requirements.
The CQB Carbine has been jointly designed and developed by Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Bharat Forge. The compact firearm is intended for close-quarters combat roles within the Indian Army and is designed to meet operational requirements for modern infantry units. Manufacturing will be undertaken by Bharat Forge and its wholly owned defence subsidiary, Kalyani Strategic Systems Limited.
The contract specifies a total quantity of 255,128 units to be delivered within five years from the date of signing. The programme adds to Bharat Forge’s growing defence manufacturing portfolio, which spans artillery systems, armoured solutions, and small arms production. The company has been expanding its role in defence through increased focus on indigenous design, advanced manufacturing processes, and integration of systems developed in collaboration with Indian defence research institutions.
The CQB carbine programme is expected to involve end-to-end activities including manufacturing, testing, and validation within India. The programme supports domestic capability development in small arms manufacturing and supply chains, while meeting long-term procurement requirements of the Indian Army.
Bharat Forge Limited is a Pune-based multinational manufacturer of safety-critical components and systems, serving sectors including automotive, power, oil and gas, construction and mining, rail, marine, defence, and aerospace. The company operates manufacturing facilities across five countries and provides integrated capabilities spanning product design, engineering, manufacturing, testing, and validation.
