Bharat Forge is preparing to commence trials of its indigenous 1.25 MW Marine Gas Turbine Generator (MGTG) for the Indian Navy, a landmark step in India’s naval self-reliance drive under Aatmanirbhar Bharat.

The trials will validate the generator’s performance before deployment on frontline warships, particularly the Kolkata-class destroyers.

The Ministry of Defence had earlier signed a ₹425 crore contract with Bharat Forge Limited for twelve sets of these generators.

The deal was concluded under the Buy (Indian) category of the Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020, mandating at least sixty percent indigenous content.

This marks Bharat Forge’s formal entry into the marine gas turbine segment, a domain historically dependent on imports.

The 1.25 MW MGTGs are designed to provide electrical power onboard naval vessels. Unlike propulsion turbines, they supply electricity to combat networks, sensors, communications equipment, and advanced weapons systems.

Their indigenous development ensures that critical shipboard systems will no longer rely on foreign suppliers for maintenance or overhaul.

Bharat Forge has established a dedicated integration and testing facility in Pune to support the program. The company’s defence arm, Kalyani Strategic Systems Limited, will serve as the production and integration partner.

The facility will also support future indigenous development of larger power plants and propulsion turbines, strengthening India’s long-term naval capability.

The upcoming trials are expected to validate the generator’s efficiency, reliability, and endurance under operational conditions. Successful completion will pave the way for installation on Kolkata-class destroyers as part of fleet modernisation.

The trials will also demonstrate India’s ability to sustain critical naval equipment through domestic manufacturing and lifecycle support.

This initiative builds upon Bharat Forge’s earlier collaboration with the Andhra Pradesh government to establish a private-sector marine gas turbine repair and overhaul facility in Visakhapatnam. That facility is expected to generate significant employment and catalyse the growth of India’s naval and aerospace manufacturing ecosystem.

The indigenous MGTG program is strategically significant. It reduces dependence on foreign OEMs, ensures sovereignty over critical technologies, and strengthens India’s defence supply chain. It also aligns with the government’s broader push to indigenise defence production, which reached a record ₹1.78 lakh crore in FY 2025–26.

Defence analysts view the trials as a milestone in India’s journey towards sovereign naval propulsion capabilities. The project underscores the importance of private-sector participation in defence manufacturing and highlights Bharat Forge’s growing role in India’s defence modernisation.

Agencies