Australian and Indian defence industry team-upon board HMAS Canberra

Thales Australia has signed a teaming agreement with Kalyani Group, an Indian auto ancillary and defence company, to compete for the upcoming close quarter battle carbine procurement for India’s Ministry of Defence.
 
The agreement was signed on board HMAS Canberra in Vishakhapatnam, India.
 
Minister for Defence Industry, Senator the Hon Linda Reynolds CSC said the signing of the teaming agreement was a win-win for Australia and India, and an excellent example of the Liberal and National Government’s commitment to support Australian defence industry. 
 
“Thales Australia will offer the F90CQB, a short-barrelled variant for the F90/EF-88 rifle in service with the Australian Defence Force, in partnership with Kalyani Group, who will manufacture the weapon in India,” Minister Reynolds said.
 
“This procurement is for up to 350,000 carbines for the Indian Armed Forces, which would be delivered over a period of five years.”
 
HMA Ships Canberra, Success, Newcastle and Parramatta, supported by the submarine HMAS Collins and a Royal Australian Air Force P8-A Poseidon aircraft, are in India for AUSINDEX 2019 for the bilateral Navy exercise.
 
Engagement with India through AUSINDEX is the cornerstone of Australia’s Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2019 series.