Nibe Ltd and its group companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with France’s Naval Group on 18 September 2026 to cooperate in naval shipbuilding and defence platforms. The framework covers underwater drones, mine countermeasure vessels, submarine systems and naval weapon launching systems along with their maintenance. The partnership links a Pune based Indian private defence manufacturer with a long term French shipbuilding partner of the Indian Navy at a time of fast growth in India France defence cooperation.
What Is Nibe Limited?
Nibe Limited is a Pune based Indian private sector defence manufacturing company listed on both the National Stock Exchange (NSE) and the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE). The company works in defence manufacturing, aerospace, naval systems, defence electronics, space technology and renewable energy, and it supports indigenous production under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
Nibe Limited was incorporated in 2005 and was earlier known as Kavita Fabrics. The company changed its name to Nibe Limited in 2020 after new promoters led by Ganesh Nibe shifted its focus to defence fabrication and machining. Ganesh Nibe is the Chairman and Managing Director of the Nibe Group (as of September 2026). The registered and manufacturing base of Nibe Limited is at Chakan in Pune, Maharashtra, with facilities also linked to Bengaluru, Shirdi, Mumbai and Delhi.
The business of Nibe Limited covers precision machining, fabrication, automated welding, artillery and missile structures, small arms, embedded systems and military software. Nibe Defence and Aerospace Limited is a key defence arm within the group, while Nibe Ordnance and Maritime Ltd and Nibe Space Private Limited handle specialised naval and space linked work. In August 2026, the Ministry of Defence signed a ₹563.36 crore contract with Nibe for 30 loiter munition systems and 300 munitions for the Indian Army, which underlined the growing order book of the company.
| Aspect | Detail on Nibe Limited |
|---|---|
| Nature | Private sector, publicly listed company |
| Founded | 2005, renamed from Kavita Fabrics in 2020 |
| Headquarters | Pune, Maharashtra |
| Main plant | Chakan, Pune, Phase III MIDC Industrial Area |
| Leadership | Ganesh Nibe, Chairman and Managing Director |
| Stock listing | NSE (NIBE) and BSE (535136) |
| Core areas | Defence structures, aerospace, naval systems, electronics, small arms |
What Is Naval Group France?
Naval Group is a French naval defence company headquartered in Paris that designs, builds and maintains submarines and surface warships. The group traces its origin to the French naval dockyards created in 1631 under Cardinal Richelieu and was earlier known as Direction des Constructions Navales (DCN) before becoming Naval Group.
Naval Group is a public limited company in which the French state holds about 62.49 percent stake and the Thales Group holds about 35 percent, with the rest held by the company and employees. The group employs more than 15,000 people across 17 countries and reported revenue of about €4.35 billion in 2024. Its product range includes nuclear attack submarines of the Barracuda class, conventional Scorpene submarines, FDI frigates known as Defence and Intervention Frigates, Gowind corvettes, mine warfare vessels and combat systems.
Naval Group India is a 100 percent owned subsidiary of Naval Group with its head office in Mumbai. Naval Group India was set up in September 2008 to support the Project 75 Scorpene submarine programme and indigenisation of submarine equipment. With more than a decade of presence in India, Naval Group has built partnerships with Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) in Mumbai and several Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the naval supply chain.
What Does the Nibe Naval Group MoU Cover?
The Nibe Naval Group MoU was signed on 18 September 2026 between the Nibe Group, which includes Nibe Limited and its group companies, and Naval Group. The MoU is not an order for ships. It sets a formal framework for cooperation in technology areas of shared interest for modern naval shipbuilding and defence platforms.
The two sides will work on autonomous systems, underwater technologies, weapon launching systems and life cycle support. Naval Group said the cooperation will combine its experience in submarines and surface ships with the manufacturing base of Nibe in India. Nibe said its strength in integrated defence solutions and continued investment in manufacturing will support the induction of latest generation naval technologies in the country.
| Cooperation area | What it means in simple terms |
|---|---|
| Underwater drones and autonomous systems | Unmanned underwater vehicles that can survey, monitor and support submarine operations without a crew on board |
| Integration of drones on submarines | Fitting and operating underwater drones from submarines to extend reach and awareness |
| Mine countermeasure vessels and systems | Special ships and equipment that find and neutralise sea mines to keep shipping routes and naval bases safe |
| Underwater submarine systems and technologies | Sonar, propulsion support, platform management and other core submarine equipment |
| Naval weapon launching systems | Modular launchers that can fire torpedoes and missiles, including future weapon ready designs |
| Maintenance and engineering support | Repair, spare parts, upgrades and through life support to keep vessels ready for service |
The MoU places special stress on future weapon ready modular launching systems and mine countermeasure engineering. Both sides have linked the agreement to stronger self reliance in naval programmes under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative. Naval Group has also described the pact as part of the Special Global Strategic Partnership between India and France for sovereign and future ready naval capability.
Scorpene Submarines and Naval Group Work in India
The Scorpene is a conventional diesel electric attack submarine designed by Naval Group for export. Conventional means the submarine uses diesel engines and batteries for power, unlike nuclear submarines that use a nuclear reactor. In India, the Scorpene is known as the Kalvari class and it forms the core of Naval Group cooperation with India.
In 2005, India signed a contract with the then DCN, now Naval Group, for licensed construction of six Scorpene submarines at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) in Mumbai. The programme is called Project 75. Under this arrangement, MDL builds the submarines in India with design support and transfer of technology from Naval Group. Transfer of technology means the foreign designer shares drawings, skills and production methods so the Indian shipyard can build and later support the vessels on its own.
The first submarine, INS Kalvari, was commissioned in December 2017. The other five are INS Khanderi, INS Karanj, INS Vela, INS Vagir and INS Vagsheer. Vagsheer, the sixth boat, was launched in April 2022 for trials and outfitting. From the third submarine onwards, a growing share of equipment was sourced from Indian industry, including MSMEs, in line with indigenisation goals.
| Feature of Kalvari class (Project 75) | Detail |
|---|---|
| Type | Diesel electric attack submarine (SSK) |
| Surface displacement | About 1,615 tonnes |
| Submerged displacement | About 1,775 tonnes |
| Length | About 67.56 metres |
| Crew | Up to 44 personnel with high automation |
| Weapons | 6 launch tubes, 18 weapons including torpedoes, missiles and mines |
| Builder in India | Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited, Mumbai |
| Designer | Naval Group, France |
Naval Group India continues to support the programme through design services, sourcing of indigenous equipment and maintenance planning. Work is also under study for fitting an indigenous Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) module developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). AIP is a system that lets a diesel electric submarine stay underwater for longer without surfacing to charge batteries. This background explains why underwater drones, submarine systems and weapon launchers figure prominently in the new Nibe partnership.
India France Defence Cooperation in Focus
India and France entered a Strategic Partnership in 1998, and defence has remained its strongest pillar. France has supplied Mirage aircraft in the past and 36 Rafale fighter aircraft under the 2016 government to government agreement. The two navies hold the bilateral naval exercise named Varuna, which focuses on joint operations, anti submarine warfare and maritime cooperation in the Indian Ocean.
The year 2026 has seen fresh momentum in the India France defence deal cycle. The Defence Acquisition Council cleared the proposal for 114 Rafale fighters for the Indian Air Force in February 2026, and India finalised a Letter of Request to France in May 2026 for a deal estimated at about ₹3.25 lakh crore. The plan envisages manufacture of around 90 aircraft in India with nearly 50 percent indigenous content. Separately, India has ordered 26 Rafale M carrier based fighters for the Indian Navy. These air deals and the Nibe Naval Group naval pact both point to a shift from direct purchase to co design, co development and co production in India.
For the maritime domain, this shift matters because the Indian Navy is expanding its underwater and mine warfare needs while Indian shipyards are scaling up warship output. Partnerships that bring design know how for drones, launchers and mine countermeasures can help Indian firms move up the value chain from fabrication of structures to integration of complex naval systems.
Why the Partnership Matters for Naval Shipbuilding in India
Naval shipbuilding in India depends on long design cycles, strict safety standards and steady maintenance support. Indian public shipyards such as MDL, Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers and Cochin Shipyard build the hulls, but critical systems such as sonars, combat management, propulsion support and weapon launchers often need foreign design inputs. A framework that gives an Indian private company access to Naval Group technology can widen the supplier base beyond public yards.
For Nibe, the MoU adds a naval vertical to a portfolio that already includes land and air systems. The company operates a large manufacturing complex in Chakan and has shown an ability to convert development work into orders, as seen in the August 2026 loiter munition contract. For Naval Group, the MoU extends a network that already includes MDL and Indian MSMEs, and it creates a channel to offer mine warfare craft, drone systems and modular launchers suited to Indian requirements.
For the Indian Navy, the gains could come in three practical areas. First, underwater drones can improve surveillance around ports, choke points and submarine operating areas at lower cost and risk. Second, modern mine countermeasure systems can protect harbour approaches and sea lanes, where older minesweepers need replacement. Third, modular weapon launchers and local maintenance can raise fleet availability by cutting repair time and import dependence. The real test will be how fast the framework moves from a cooperation agreement to firm technology transfer, local production and service contracts.
Key Takeaways
- The Nibe Naval Group MoU was signed on 18 September 2026 to cooperate in naval shipbuilding and defence platforms.
- The MoU covers underwater drones, mine countermeasure vessels, submarine systems, naval weapon launching systems and maintenance.
- Nibe Limited, founded in 2005 and headquartered in Pune, is a private company listed on the NSE and BSE.
- Naval Group, headquartered in Paris, is majority owned by the French state and operates in India through Naval Group India set up in September 2008.
- Under Project 75, six Kalvari class Scorpene submarines were built at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited, with INS Kalvari commissioned in December 2017.
- India and France hold the bilateral naval exercise Varuna and are advancing the 114 Rafale procurement with a Letter of Request finalised in May 2026.
