SynopsisBharat Forge and Flying Whales will jointly develop heavy-lift airships in India. This collaboration aims to boost defense and strategic applications for the nation. The LCA60T platform will be manufactured, integrating advanced technology and engineering expertise. This initiative supports India's Make in India and Aatmanirbhar Bharat visions. The partnership will create a new industrial ecosystem and strategic mobility for India.iStockBharat Forge, FLYING WHALES partner to build heavy-lift airships in IndiaBharat Forge Ltd on Wednesday said it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with French-Canadian heavy-lift airship company FLYING WHALES to jointly develop and manufacture heavy-lift airships in India for defence and strategic applications.The agreement, signed at the Farnborough International Airshow 2026, will see the two companies work towards establishing manufacturing, integration and production of FLYING WHALES-Bharat Forge airships in India, in line with the government's Make in India and Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiatives.The collaboration will be centred on the LCA60T platform, FLYING WHALES' next-generation heavy-lift airship capable of carrying up to 60 tonnes of cargo. The platform features vertical take-off and landing capability, requires minimal ground infrastructure and uses hybrid-electric propulsion. It is designed for point-to-point operations in remote and challenging environments.The companies said the partnership will explore defence applications including logistics support to forward operating bases, transportation of oversized equipment and critical military supplies, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions, communication relay systems, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations, and rapid deployment in remote border regions and difficult terrain."Airships will redefine how nations move, supply and sustain their forces, and India will lead that change," said Amit Kalyani, Vice Chairman and Joint Managing Director, Bharat Forge Ltd.He said the collaboration would position India among a select group of countries with indigenous heavy-lift airship capabilities by combining FLYING WHALES' technology with Bharat Forge's engineering expertise."This strategic partnership places India among a select group of nations with the capability to design, build and field heavy-lift airships, bringing together FLYING WHALES' pioneering technology and Bharat Forge's six decades of advanced engineering strength and deep understanding of India's defence needs," he added.Kalyani said the partnership is aligned with the government's Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision and is aimed at creating long-term strategic capabilities."Aligned to the spirit of Aatmanirbhar Bharat, we are creating a sovereign capability, a new industrial ecosystem and an entirely new dimension of strategic mobility for the nation," he said."The LCA60T was conceived to reach the world's most remote and demanding locations, and that promise finds its fullest expression in India, with its vast geography, challenging terrain and extraordinary ambition," said Tanguy Lestienne, Chief Executive Officer, FLYING WHALES SERVICES.He said Bharat Forge's engineering capabilities and defence expertise make it a strong partner for expanding the programme in India."We are delighted to partner with Bharat Forge, whose engineering depth, defence expertise and shared vision make this a true strategic alliance to take the programme to scale," he said.Lestienne said the collaboration is aimed at building a long-term airship manufacturing ecosystem in the country."Together, we will build in India, for India and for the world, laying the foundations of an airship industry that will serve this region for generations," he added.According to the companies, the proposed localisation programme is expected to generate high-technology employment, develop an advanced supply chain and create future export opportunities, strengthening India's position as a global aerospace manufacturing hub.Read More News on...moreless