Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Belgium Prime Minister Bart De Wever at Hyderabad House in New Delhi during a state visit Sept. 3, 2026. (Photo by Imtiyaz Khan/Anadolu via Getty Images)
BELFAST — India has struck an agreement with Belgium to locally produce Thales-made 70mm rockets, as part of a wide-ranging series of new industrial pacts signed off by the two nations.
The collection of 10 agreements, which also include ammunition production and naval mine-countermeasure systems teaming, were inked during a working visit to the Asia-Pacific nation by Belgian Prime Minister Bart de Wever, Minister of Defence Theo Francken and 15 Belgian defense companies.
Based on a collaboration between Thales Belgium and Kalyani Strategic Systems, the first 70mm rocket to be produced “entirely” in India, is expected in “early 2027,” said the Belgian defense ministry in a press notice. “The cooperation works both ways: India develops its own production capacity, while Thales gains an additional source of supply for international orders.”
The ministry added that the move will also strengthen European security of rocket supply.
