Bharat Forge has signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with FLYING WHALES, a French-Canadian aerospace company, to jointly develop and manufacture heavy-lift airships for India's defence and national security sectors. The partnership, announced at the Farnborough International Airshow 2026, aims to establish a domestic manufacturing ecosystem for next-generation airships under the Government's Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives. This collaboration positions India among a select group of nations with the capability to design and build heavy-lift airships, addressing critical requirements for strategic mobility and logistics.

Strategic Partnership and Platform Capabilities

The collaboration focuses on the LCA60T platform, FLYING WHALES' next-generation heavy-lift airship. This platform is capable of transporting up to 60 tonnes of cargo with vertical take-off and landing capabilities, requiring minimal ground infrastructure. The airship features hybrid-electric propulsion and is designed for point-to-point operations in challenging and remote environments. The two companies will work towards establishing the manufacture, integration, and production of these airships in India to support sovereign capabilities.

Defence and Strategic Applications

The partnership will explore a range of defence applications, including logistics support to forward operating bases and the transportation of oversized equipment and critical military supplies. Additionally, the airships will be utilized for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions, communication relay systems, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations. The platform is particularly suited for rapid deployment in remote border regions and difficult terrains, offering a new dimension of strategic mobility for the nation.

Leadership Statements and Industrial Impact

Mr. Amit Kalyani, Vice Chairman & Joint Managing Director of Bharat Forge Limited, emphasized that the partnership redefines how nations move and sustain forces, leveraging Bharat Forge's six decades of engineering strength. Mr. Sébastien Bougon, President of FLYING WHALES, highlighted India's vast geography and challenging terrain as ideal for the LCA60T platform. The proposed localisation programme is expected to generate high-technology employment, develop an advanced supply chain, and create future export opportunities, thereby strengthening India's position as a global aerospace manufacturing hub.

Bharat Forge Limited has scheduled its 65th Annual General Meeting (AGM) for Tuesday, August 11, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. IST, to be conducted through Video Conferencing (VC) or Other Audio-Visual Means (OAVM). The meeting will cover the adoption of financial statements for the financial year ended March 31, 2026, and the declaration of a final dividend of ₹6.50 per equity share, subject to shareholder approval. The notice was filed with BSE Limited and the National Stock Exchange of India Limited on July 17, 2026, pursuant to SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015. The notice was also published in the Financial Express (all editions) and Loksatta (Marathi, Pune) on July 18, 2026.

AGM Key Details

The following table outlines the key dates and logistics for the 65th AGM:

Ordinary Business

The AGM will transact the following ordinary business items:

• Adoption of Financial Statements: Consideration and adoption of audited standalone and consolidated financial statements for the financial year ended March 31, 2026, along with the reports of the Board of Directors and Auditors.
• Dividend Declaration: Confirmation of the interim dividend and declaration of a final dividend on equity shares for the financial year ended March 31, 2026. The Board has recommended a final dividend of ₹6.50 per equity share (325%) of face value ₹2 each, which, if approved, would involve a cash outflow of ₹3,107.58 million. An interim dividend of ₹2 per equity share (100%) of face value ₹2 each, aggregating to ₹956.18 million, was declared by the Board on February 12, 2026.
• Director Reappointment: Appointment of Mr. Ashish Bharat Ram (DIN: 00671567), who retires by rotation and is eligible for reappointment.

Special Business

The AGM will also address the following special business items:

E-Voting and Participation

Members can participate in the AGM through the NSDL e-Voting platform. Remote e-voting will be open from Saturday, August 8, 2026 (9:00 a.m. IST) to Monday, August 10, 2026 (5:00 p.m. IST). Members holding shares as on the cut-off date of Tuesday, August 4, 2026, are eligible to vote. The e-voting results will be announced within two working days after the conclusion of the AGM on the Company's website at www.bharatforge.com and communicated to the stock exchanges.

Mr. Sridhar Mudaliar (FCS COP: 2664), failing him, Mrs. Sheetal Joshi (FCS COP: 11635), Partners of M/s. SVD & Associates, Company Secretaries, Pune, have been appointed as the Scrutiniser for the e-voting process. The AGM notice was signed by Tejaswini Chaudhari, Company Secretary and Compliance Officer (Membership No.: A18907), on behalf of the Board of Directors.