Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) signed a memorandum of understanding with Kalyani Strategic Systems Limited (KSSL) on five March 2026 to jointly develop and promote indigenous solutions for advanced naval systems, unmanned platforms and other strategic maritime capabilities for domestic and global markets. The agreement was announced as having no financial implication ascertained at this stage. The partnership is intended to accelerate technological collaboration and strengthen supply chains for defence and maritime systems.

The collaboration will cover a broad spectrum of maritime and defence systems, including ship propulsion and mechanical systems for naval and commercial vessels, integrated platform management systems, steering and stabiliser assemblies and deck equipment. It will also focus on unmanned platforms, including Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs) and Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs), and will seek opportunities within India and in mutually agreed international markets. The scope aims to combine product development and market outreach to enhance indigenous capabilities.

The MoU was signed by Commander Shantanu Bose, IN (Retd), Director (Shipbuilding) of GRSE and Commodore Ajay Sharma, IN (Retd), Vice President, Marine Systems, Bharat Forge Limited, in the presence of the chairperson and senior officials from both organisations. The collaboration is expected to combine GRSE's extensive expertise in shipbuilding and maritime engineering with KSSL's capabilities as a defence original equipment manufacturer in designing and manufacturing advanced platforms. This alliance is positioned to contribute to the national vision of Atmanirbharta by promoting indigenisation and capability enhancement.

GRSE, a Defence Public Sector Undertaking under the administrative control of the Ministry of Defence, traces its origins to 1884 and was taken over by the Government of India in 1960. The shipyard delivered the Seaward Defence Boat INS Ajay in 1961 and has since built over 800 platforms, including 115 warships, and remains the only Indian shipbuilder with four distinct shipyards. The company can undertake concurrent construction of 28 ships and has diversified into engineering products such as prefabricated steel bridges, deck machinery assemblies and the manufacture of 30mm naval surface guns while leveraging in?house design capabilities and modern virtual reality facilities.