Bharat Forge and French aerospace firm Turgis Gaillard have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to jointly manufacture the AAROK Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) in India. The agreement aims to meet the growing demand of the Indian armed forces for long-endurance, precision-strike UAVs while boosting indigenous manufacturing under India’s defence autonomy vision.
AAROK is capable of operating at altitudes between 10,000 and 30,000 feet and remaining airborne for up to 48 hours. Designed for long-range surveillance and offensive operations, the UAV carries a payload of over 1.5 tonnes and is integrated with command and control systems to deliver real-time tactical intelligence. It is equipped with electromagnetic sensors and radar for monitoring enemy positions from safe standoff distances and neutralising high-value targets such as surface-to-air defence systems.
Bharat Forge, which has extensive experience in defence, aerospace, and automotive sectors, will establish a production line in India for the AAROK platform. The company emphasized that this collaboration will ensure domestic capabilities not only in manufacturing but also in maintenance and overhaul, strengthening India’s defence self-reliance.
The AAROK UAV is expected to support multi-domain operations, including joint and maritime missions. Its endurance and advanced sensors make it a valuable asset for monitoring territorial waters and tracking unauthorised activities at sea.
India’s current MALE UAV fleet includes Israeli Heron drones, with additional acquisitions like the MQ-9B UAVs from the US and indigenous TAPAS UAVs in development. The AAROK will complement these platforms by adding greater versatility and firepower to India’s unmanned systems ecosystem.
With this partnership, Bharat Forge continues to expand its global footprint in high-tech manufacturing, operating facilities across five countries and offering design-to-delivery solutions across multiple sectors.
