Kalyani Strategic Systems Unveils Indigenous 120 mm Vehicle-Mounted Rapid Attack Mortar System

Kalyani Strategic Systems Limited (KSSL), the wholly owned defence subsidiary of Bharat Forge Limited, has unveiled an indigenously developed 120 mm Rapid Attack Mortar System (R.A.M.S), designed to provide rapid and mobile fire support to the Indian Armed Forces and international defence customers. The new weapon system integrates a 120 mm mortar with a highly mobile 4×4 vehicle platform, enabling military units to deliver fire support without requiring personnel to dismount and separately deploy the weapon.

The system was officially unveiled on November 12, 2026, with Bharat Forge announcing the development through a regulatory filing to the stock exchanges. The company described R.A.M.S as a vehicle-integrated mortar platform developed to meet the requirements of modern military operations, particularly those involving rapid deployment, mobility, crew protection and operations in challenging terrain.

Vehicle-Mounted Mortar Designed for Rapid Deployment

The principal feature of R.A.M.S is its integration with a 4×4 vehicle, allowing the weapon to be operated directly from the platform. Conventional ground-deployed mortars generally require personnel to position and prepare the weapon before commencing fire, while the new system is designed to eliminate this separate emplacement process.

According to Kalyani Strategic Systems, the vehicle-mounted configuration enables military personnel to transition rapidly from movement to firing operations. Once an engagement is completed, the vehicle can relocate without requiring the crew to dismantle and recover a separately deployed mortar.

This capability is intended to reduce the time between receiving targeting information and delivering fire support. By keeping the mortar integrated with the vehicle, the system is also designed to reduce crew exposure during deployment and engagement.

The company has positioned R.A.M.S as a solution for mobile military formations requiring responsive mortar support while retaining the ability to reposition quickly in changing battlefield conditions.

Shoot-and-Scoot Capability for Modern Battlefields

An important operational characteristic of the new mortar system is its emphasis on shoot-and-scoot mobility, which allows artillery and mortar units to relocate rapidly after firing.

Modern battlefields increasingly involve surveillance drones, counter-battery radars and precision-guided weapons capable of detecting and engaging firing positions. Consequently, the ability to minimise the time spent at a particular firing location has become an important consideration in the design of mobile weapon systems.

Kalyani Strategic Systems has developed R.A.M.S around this requirement, combining vehicle mobility with an integrated mortar installation. The company states that the system is intended to reduce the time required to move from travelling to firing and subsequently return to movement.

The configuration is designed to improve the survivability of mortar detachments by reducing the need for personnel to operate outside the vehicle during the firing process.

Engineered for High-Altitude and Extreme-Weather Operations

Kalyani Strategic Systems has highlighted the new system’s suitability for operations in high-altitude regions and challenging environmental conditions. According to the company, R.A.M.S has been engineered to retain mobility and operational readiness in extreme cold, high temperatures and monsoon conditions.

The 4×4 vehicle configuration is intended to provide mobility across different geographical environments, including mountain passes, deserts and plains.

High-altitude operations present particular challenges for military equipment because of difficult terrain, low temperatures and the logistical requirements associated with transporting and deploying weapon systems. Vehicle-mounted mortar platforms are designed to address some of these requirements by combining transportation and weapon deployment within a single mobile system.

KSSL has identified high-altitude mobility and responsiveness as important design considerations for the new mortar platform. The company has not, however, disclosed detailed performance data from environmental qualification or military field trials in its November 12 announcement.

Indigenous Development for Indian and International Defence Customers

The 120 mm Rapid Attack Mortar System has been designed and developed in India for potential use by the Indian Armed Forces and overseas defence customers.

The unveiling represents another addition to Kalyani Strategic Systems’ indigenous defence manufacturing portfolio, which includes artillery systems, armoured and protected vehicles, small arms, ammunition, marine equipment and unmanned platforms.

The company draws upon the wider Kalyani Group’s engineering, metallurgy, manufacturing and industrial capabilities to develop defence systems for domestic and international applications.

Amit Kalyani, Vice Chairman and Joint Managing Director of Bharat Forge Limited, highlighted the development of responsive fire-support capabilities for high-altitude and demanding operational environments while emphasising the importance of crew protection.

He also reiterated the company’s commitment to designing and manufacturing defence equipment in India for both domestic requirements and international customers.

Expanding India’s Private-Sector Artillery Manufacturing Capabilities

Kalyani Strategic Systems has emerged as an important Indian private-sector manufacturer of artillery and land-based defence systems. Its product portfolio encompasses conventional artillery, vehicle-mounted weapons and other military platforms developed through domestic engineering and manufacturing capabilities.

The introduction of R.A.M.S expands the company’s portfolio into a vehicle-integrated 120 mm mortar configuration intended for rapid-response operations.

Unlike heavier artillery systems designed for extended-range fire support, 120 mm mortars provide high-angle fire capabilities suitable for supporting military formations operating in varied terrain. Integrating such weapons onto mobile platforms allows designers to combine mortar firepower with vehicle mobility and faster deployment procedures.

The development also reflects the increasing participation of Indian private-sector companies in the design and manufacture of complete military weapon systems rather than individual components and subsystems.

Through Kalyani Strategic Systems, Bharat Forge continues to develop domestically engineered defence products intended to serve Indian military requirements and potential export markets.

Product Unveiling Marks New Development Milestone

The November 12 announcement establishes the formal unveiling of Kalyani Strategic Systems’ 120 mm Rapid Attack Mortar System.

The company has confirmed that the weapon has been designed and developed in India and is intended for the Indian Armed Forces and international customers. However, the announcement does not identify a confirmed procurement order, completed military induction, delivery schedule or production contract for the new system.

Further procurement and operational milestones will depend on customer requirements, evaluation procedures and applicable qualification processes.

The unveiling of R.A.M.S adds a new indigenous mobile mortar platform to India’s private-sector defence manufacturing portfolio, with Kalyani Strategic Systems emphasising rapid deployment, crew protection, high-altitude mobility and adaptable fire-support capabilities as the system’s principal design objectives.

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