Bharat Forge Ltd (BFL) has secured a ₹425 crore contract from the Ministry of Defence (MoD) for the supply of Gas Turbine Generators (GTGs) to the Indian Navy, marking the company’s entry into the marine gas turbine business and strengthening India’s push towards defence self-reliance.
The contract, awarded under the Buy (Indian) category of the Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020 (DAP-2020), will be executed over a period of five years. The GTGs will be deployed onboard Kolkata-class warships for power generation applications.
Indigenous capability takes centre stage
Under the project, Bharat Forge will supply 1.25 MW-rated Gas Turbine Generators that will replace lower-capacity units currently operating on the vessels. The project is expected to deliver the first indigenous gas turbine-based power plant to operate aboard Indian Naval ships.
The contract is seen as a significant milestone in the development of domestic capabilities in critical naval technologies and aligns with the Government’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives.
Boost for naval operational readiness
The GTGs play a critical role in modern naval combatants by powering key combat systems, advanced sensors and weapon platforms. Indigenous production and lifecycle support are expected to enhance the Indian Navy’s operational readiness while reducing dependence on foreign suppliers for maintenance and upgrades.
The project will also contribute to the creation of a domestic manufacturing ecosystem for marine gas turbine technologies, a segment traditionally dominated by global players.
New manufacturing and testing infrastructure planned
As part of the programme, Bharat Forge will establish a dedicated integration and testing facility for Gas Turbine Generators. The company also plans to participate in future design and development programmes involving larger power plants and propulsion gas turbines.
The new capabilities are expected to support the broader requirements of the Indian armed forces by enabling local production, maintenance, overhaul and lifecycle management of gas turbine systems.
Strategic expansion in defence manufacturing
The order further strengthens Bharat Forge’s position in India’s defence manufacturing sector, where it has emerged as a key supplier of advanced systems and critical components.
The Pune-based company operates across automotive, defence, aerospace, marine, rail, construction, mining, oil and gas, and power sectors. With manufacturing operations spread across five countries, Bharat Forge provides end-to-end capabilities spanning product design, engineering, manufacturing, testing and validation.
The latest contract adds a strategic new dimension to the company’s defence portfolio while supporting India’s efforts to build sovereign capabilities in advanced maritime technologies.