Bharat Forge Signed an MoU with France’s Turgis & Gaillard to Offer AAROK MALE UAV for Indian Armed Forces

In a strategic move to strengthen India's unmanned aerial capabilities, Bharat Forge Ltd, a key player in India's defence and aerospace sector, announced on Tuesday that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with France-based Turgis & Gaillard. The collaboration aims to jointly offer the advanced AAROK Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) to the Indian Ministry of Defence, positioning the platform as a potent solution for India’s evolving military requirements.

AAROK: A Modern MALE UAV for Multi-Domain Operations

The AAROK UAV is classified as a MALE drone, designed for operations at altitudes ranging between 10,000 and 30,000 feet. It boasts an impressive endurance exceeding 24 hours, with variants capable of reaching up to 48 hours, enabling extended missions over vast areas. Such capabilities make it well-suited for persistent intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions.

Key specifications and features of AAROK include:

• Flight endurance: 24-48 hours

• Operational altitude: 10,000 - 30,000 feet

• Payload capacity: Over 1.5 tonnes, allowing integration of surveillance systems, communication relays, and a variety of weaponry

• Sensors: Equipped with advanced electromagnetic sensors, synthetic aperture radar, and electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) systems

• Weapons: Capable of carrying precision-guided munitions to strike deep behind enemy lines, disrupting air defences and key assets

• Networked operations: Seamless integration with command-and-control infrastructure and other military platforms for real-time data sharing

Bharat Forge noted that the AAROK is designed to perform long-range surveillance while staying at a safe distance from enemy air defences, enhancing survivability and mission effectiveness.

Indigenous Production for Sovereignty

As part of the agreement, Bharat Forge will establish a domestic production line for the AAROK UAV. The Pune-headquartered company emphasized that this move aligns with India’s goal of achieving defence autonomy.

“These production capabilities will help meet the significant needs of the Indian armed forces with local production and ensure complete sovereignty on maintenance and overhaul operations,” the company stated.

The local manufacturing of AAROK will also contribute to India’s Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives, reducing dependency on foreign suppliers and building a sustainable ecosystem for UAV production, maintenance, and upgrades.

Strategic and Tactical Roles

The AAROK UAV promises to be a critical asset for a range of operations:

• ISR and target acquisition: Continuous monitoring of enemy movements and installations over land and sea

• Combat support: Delivery of precision strikes on enemy assets, suppression of air defences, and support for joint operations

• Maritime surveillance: Enhanced maritime domain awareness by monitoring coastal and territorial waters, detecting unauthorized vessels, and supporting anti-piracy missions

Its integration with other military systems ensures that AAROK can contribute to network-centric warfare, providing commanders with crucial tactical information in real time.

Context: India’s Expanding UAV Fleet

India’s current inventory of MALE UAVs includes primarily Israeli-origin Heron drones, which have served reliably for surveillance missions. The armed forces have also placed orders for the MQ-9B SeaGuardian UAVs from General Atomics, while indigenous efforts continue with the TAPAS (Rustom II) UAV program under DRDO. The addition of AAROK — with domestic production — promises to further diversify and strengthen India’s UAV portfolio.

Bharat Forge: A Trusted Global Partner

Beyond its collaboration with Turgis & Gaillard, Bharat Forge operates manufacturing facilities across five countries, with expertise spanning design, engineering, manufacturing, testing, and validation. Its diversified portfolio serves not just defence and aerospace, but also automotive, energy, oil and gas, marine, mining, and rail sectors.

This MoU marks Bharat Forge’s latest step in becoming a key contributor to India’s high-tech defence manufacturing sector, with a focus on cutting-edge platforms that can support India’s security needs across land, sea, and air.