Bharat Forge to establish marine gas turbine facility

Metro India News | AMARAVATI

In a landmark development for India’s defence manufacturing sector, Bharat Forge Limited has signed an agreement with the Andhra Pradesh government to establish the country’s first private-sector Marine Gas Turbine (MGT) facility in Visakhapatnam, marking a major step toward strengthening indigenous naval propulsion capabilities under the Atmanirbhar Bharat mission.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed during the Aerospace and Defence Manufacturing Conclave held in Puttaparthi in the presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu. The agreement was exchanged between Bharat Forge Aerospace CEO Guru Biswal and noted defence scientist G. Satheesh Reddy.

The upcoming facility, to be located in Visakhapatnam near the Eastern Naval Command and Naval Dockyard, is expected to become a strategic asset for India’s naval defence infrastructure. For the first time in the country, the private sector will provide end-to-end repair, overhaul and maintenance support for marine gas turbines used in naval platforms.

Officials said the project will include advanced capabilities such as blade restoration, rotor balancing, combustor liner repairs, testing infrastructure and manufacturing of critical defence-grade components. The facility will also provide round-the-clock operational support for the Indian Navy.

Industry experts believe the initiative will significantly reduce India’s dependence on foreign countries for marine propulsion servicing and advanced naval engineering support. The project is also expected to accelerate the development of a broader aerospace and defence ecosystem in Visakhapatnam, including precision engineering, metallurgy, advanced materials and high-end manufacturing industries.

As part of the project, Bharat Forge will establish a dedicated research and development centre focused on indigenous marine turbine technologies and future propulsion systems.