Bharat Forge says it exported 100 guns to Europe other markets last year

    Pune, Apr 2 (PTI) Bharat Forge Chairman Baba Kalyani on Wednesday said that the company has supplied 100 guns, including 18 Advanced Towed Artillery Guns (ATAGs), to several countries, including those in Europe.
"We exported artillery guns to Europe even before supplying them to the Indian Army. As a matter of fact, last year, we supplied 100 guns to a European country, including 18 ATAGs, Kalyani said at a press conference at the company's headquarters here.

It is a great feeling that, after 75 years of independence, India is not only capable of manufacturing its own artillery guns but is also exporting them to European nations, he said, adding that the company sees immense opportunities worldwide.

"Our goal is to become the largest artillery producer in the world, hopefully by 2030. To achieve this, we are setting up a significant manufacturing capacity," he said.

    "There are many countries which do not produce defence equipment. After America told European countries to fend for themselves, they have to start producing weapons on their own. They can not depend on Nato and the US any longer (for their security). They (European nations) have technology, but they do not have capacity," the company chairman noted.
    
    Kalyani further said that the firm manufactures all types of artillery guns, including ultralight artillery guns (ULH). "Currently, we are developing artillery guns capable of firing on the move," he added.

He said many countries around the world are showing interest in our products and the company's exports will continue to grow.

"Last year, exports accounted for nearly 90 per cent of our sales. This year, we have planned for almost 80 per cent of our sales to come from exports. The global market is opening up for us, and we aspire to become a supplier to the US Army, the French Army, the British Army, and other global defence forces in the future," he said.

Today, he said, many countries are facing a significant shortage of defence hardware and manufacturing capacity. "While there is no doubt that they possess advanced technology -- perhaps even superior to ours -- the real challenge lies in production. The sheer volume of equipment consumed in the Ukraine war has created an urgent need for replenishment," he said.

Just to replace what has already been used, he said, these nations will require substantial manufacturing capabilities. "This presents a major opportunity for defence manufacturers like us to step in and bridge the gap."

Kalyani said the Indian Army intends to procure 4,500 artillery guns in the next 10 to 15 years to guard vast borders.

"We are supplying the first procurement of 307 to the Indian Army and there is a long way to go to reach that modernization target," he noted.

    Last month, the Ministry of Defence signed a contract with Bharat Forge and Tata Advanced System Ltd to procure 307 Advanced Towed Artillery Gun Systems and 327 high mobility 6x6 gun towing vehicles worth Rs 6,900 crore.

    The Bharat Forge Chairman said the Government of India wants domestic defence manufacturers to export their products and in this regard, good help is coming from Indian embassies and missions aboard and also the Army.

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)