Bharat Forge has achieved a significant milestone in India’s defence sector by securing contracts worth approximately ₹300 crore under the Emergency Procurement–VI (EP-VI) framework. This announcement has been hailed as a decisive boost to India’s indigenous unmanned systems capability and its ongoing efforts for rapid defence modernization.
The EP-VI contracts, which have been awarded specifically for the Indian Army and intended for the Indian Navy, cover a range of homegrown unmanned platforms tailored to address urgent operational requirements across various terrains and mission profiles.
The systems inducted through these contracts include advanced unmanned platforms like Omega One, Omega Nine, Bayonet, and Cleaver. These systems are designed to fulfill roles in intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), as well as loitering munitions, and have been developed entirely in India. Their deployment aligns seamlessly with the government’s Atmanirbhar Bharat vision, emphasizing the Armed Forces’ commitment to rapid capability deployment through domestic industry.
A showcase of Bharat Forge’s unmanned capabilities occurred during the Army Day Parade held in Jaipur on January 15, where Omega One was prominently displayed mounted on an upgraded BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicle. This demonstration highlighted the system’s operational readiness and exemplified the increasing significance of indigenous engineering in providing modern battlefield solutions.
The EP-VI framework places a strong emphasis on compressed delivery timelines while maintaining high standards of quality, reliability, and scalability. The successful award of these contracts underscores the growing confidence within the defence establishment in the capacity of Indian industry to deliver complex, time-sensitive technologies.
Amit Kalyani, Vice Chairman and Joint Managing Director of Bharat Forge, commented that securing the EP-VI contracts, along with the demonstration of Omega One at Army Day, reinforces the company’s dedication to developing India-specific, electronically resilient, and combat-ready unmanned systems tailored for the Armed Forces.
The company is focusing on enhancing its unmanned systems portfolio through the integration of advanced autonomy, artificial intelligence (AI), and data-driven decision-making capabilities. These innovations aim to elevate capabilities in endurance, precision, survivability, and adaptability within contested operational environments.
With ongoing investments in design and manufacturing, as well as next-generation autonomy stacks, Bharat Forge is positioning itself as a pivotal component of India’s unmanned and autonomous defence ecosystem. This strategic move not only supports the Armed Forces but also aims to reduce reliance on imported critical technologies, marking a significant step towards self-sufficiency in defence manufacturing.
