Bharat Forge has secured the lowest bidder (L1) status in a major Indian Army tender to supply indigenously developed close-quarter battle (CQB) carbines, marking a significant milestone in India’s defence self-reliance efforts. The carbines were designed by the Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) of DRDO and will be produced by Bharat Forge’s defence arm, Kalyani Strategic Systems (KSS).
While the official value of the contract has not been disclosed, multiple reports estimate it at around ₹2,000 crore, potentially making it the single largest order for carbines in India since the induction of the INSAS rifles over two decades ago. The Indian Army is expected to procure over 400,000 units as part of this tender.
In a post on social media, DRDO stated, “Significantly boosting #atmanirbharta in critical technology, 5.56×45 mm CQB Carbine, designed and developed by ARDE, DRDO and produced by @BharatForgeLtd selected as L1 in #IndianArmy RFP.”
The CQB carbine is designed to meet the Army’s long-standing demand for a compact, modern weapon suitable for close combat operations. Its induction would significantly bolster the infantry’s urban and jungle warfare capabilities.
The news boosted investor confidence, with Bharat Forge shares rising over 1% despite a weak broader market. The development marks a major breakthrough for Kalyani Strategic Systems, which has so far generated most of its revenue through exports.
Bharat Forge, which holds a defence order book of nearly ₹9,500 crore, has projected a 15–20% order book growth for FY26. According to CFO Kedar Dixit, while FY25 was led by export orders, FY26 is expected to see major domestic defence deals, with new business worth ₹6,959 crore secured during the previous fiscal—₹5,000 crore of which came from the defence sector alone.
This tender win is a major step forward in India’s ‘Make in India’ and ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ initiatives, positioning Bharat Forge as a key partner in India’s modernisation and indigenisation of armed forces.
