MKU (company)
.svg.png) | |
| Type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry |
|
| Founded | 1985 |
| Headquarters | , India |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Neeraj Gupta (Managing Director) |
| Products |
|
MKU Limited is an Indian defence technology company headquartered in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. It manufactures ballistic protection and military electro-optical equipment, including ballistic helmets, body armour, hard armour plates, vehicle and aircraft armour, night-vision devices, thermal imagers and weapon sights.[1]
The company supplies equipment to military, police, paramilitary and security organisations in India and overseas. Its protection systems have been used by forces in more than 100 countries.[1][2]
In October 2025, a consortium led by MKU received a ₹659.47 crore Ministry of Defence contract for 29,762 advanced night sights for the Indian Army's 7.62×51 mm assault rifles.[3]
History
MKU traces its origins to M. Kumar Udyog, established in 1985.
The company initially supplied fibre-reinforced plastic products for the Indian Army. Its first batch of fibre-reinforced plastic military helmets was supplied in 1989.[4]
During the following decades, MKU expanded from military helmets into body armour, hard armour plates, ballistic shields and protection kits for vehicles, aircraft and naval platforms.
The company subsequently entered the military electro-optics sector, developing night-vision devices, thermal imagers, weapon sights and platform-based observation systems.
By the mid-2020s, MKU had expanded further into maintenance and life-extension work for military platforms and aircraft.
Ballistic protection
Ballistic protection forms the company's oldest major defence business.
Its products include:
- ballistic helmets;
- tactical body armour;
- concealable body armour;
- hard armour plates;
- ballistic shields;
- vehicle armour;
- aircraft armour; and
- spall liners.[1]
Indian Army ballistic helmet programme
In December 2016, the Indian Army placed an order for 158,279 ballistic helmets through the capital-procurement route at a cost of approximately ₹180 crore (equivalent to ₹259 crore or US$27 million in 2023).[5]
The programme replaced significant quantities of older helmet types with modern composite ballistic protection.
The first batch of 7,500 helmets was reported as having been delivered by 2017.[6]
The helmets were intended for use in combat, counter-insurgency and other operational environments.
Kavro combat helmets
MKU markets its military helmets under the Kavro brand.
Kavro Veer
At Aero India 2023, MKU displayed the Kavro SCH 111 T Veer, a ballistic helmet developed to accommodate Sikh military personnel wearing religious head coverings.
Janes reported that the helmet was designed to provide ballistic protection while retaining compatibility with military accessories and night-vision equipment.[7]
Kavro Doma 360
The Kavro Doma 360 is a rifle-rated combat helmet unveiled publicly at Milipol Paris in 2023.
The design is intended to provide protection around the helmet shell against selected rifle threats rather than being limited to conventional fragmentation and handgun protection.
The helmet was reported as having been tested against 7.62×39 mm, 7.62×51 mm and 5.56×45 mm ammunition.[8]
Night vision and electro-optics
Electro-optics has become another major area of MKU's defence business.
Its systems include:
- night-vision weapon sights;
- night-vision monoculars;
- night-vision goggles;
- thermal weapon sights;
- thermal-imaging devices;
- laser rangefinders; and
- multi-sensor observation systems.
Netro NW-3000
The Netro NW-3000 is a night-vision weapon sight developed for military rifles.
On 15 October 2025, the Ministry of Defence signed a ₹659.47 crore contract with a consortium led by MKU for 29,762 night sights and associated equipment for the Indian Army's 7.62×51 mm assault rifles.[3]
The Ministry of Defence stated that the equipment would allow engagement of targets at ranges of up to approximately 500 metres (1,600 ft) under starlight conditions and that the procurement contained more than 51 per cent indigenous content.[3]
The sights are intended for the Army's SIG 716i rifles.
In July 2026, Janes reported that MKU was preparing to begin deliveries of the NW-3000 and that an initial batch of approximately 4,000 sights was planned by the end of 2026.[9]
The sight underwent trials across different operational environments before selection.[9]
Aviation night vision
.jpg)
MKU has also developed night-vision systems for military aviation.
Its aviation electro-optical work includes night-vision goggles intended for helicopter operations.
MKU's aviation night-vision equipment has been associated with Indian helicopter platforms including the Light Combat Helicopter Prachand and HAL Light Utility Helicopter.[10]
Platform armour
_helicopters_in_Indian_Air_Force.jpg)
MKU designs modular armour kits for military vehicles, helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft and naval platforms.
Platform armour can include:
- add-on composite armour;
- ballistic panels;
- cockpit protection;
- floor armour;
- crew-compartment protection; and
- internal spall liners.
The company's aircraft-protection work has included armour solutions for helicopter types such as the Boeing CH-47 Chinook, Mil Mi-8, Mil Mi-17, NHIndustries NH90, Sikorsky CH-53 Sea Stallion and members of the Puma family.[11]
Reducing the weight of aircraft armour is particularly important because additional armour can reduce useful payload, endurance and performance.
Military aircraft maintenance
In 2026, MKU expanded into military-aircraft maintenance and life-extension services.
In April 2026, the company was reported to have secured long-term contracts associated with maintenance, repair, overhaul and life extension of Indian Air Force aircraft.[12]
Detailed information about the aircraft types involved has not been publicly released.
Exports
Exports have formed an important part of MKU's business.
The company has supplied ballistic protection and electro-optical systems to military and security organisations across Asia, Europe, Latin America and other international markets.[1]
Brazil
In January 2021, MKU received an order to supply approximately 14,500 ballistic vests to the military police of the Brazilian state of São Paulo.[13]
The company has also supplied night-vision systems to Brazilian military customers.
Philippines
MKU has supplied ballistic protection equipment to Philippine military and police organisations.
A 2024 report stated that more than 30,000 helmets had been exported to customers in the Philippines.[14]
Asian helmet contract
In July 2025, MKU was reported to have secured a multi-year export contract to supply more than 200,000 ballistic helmets to an Asian armed force.[15]
The customer was not publicly identified.
International industrial partnerships
Saudi Arabia
In February 2026, MKU and Saudi company Sondos Advanced Industry announced the Tuwaiq Armour Industrial Corporation joint venture during the World Defense Show in Riyadh.[16]
The venture is intended to support local Saudi production of:
- ballistic helmets;
- body armour; and
- hard armour plates.[16]
Indonesia
In June 2026, MKU and Indonesian defence company PT Republikorp reached an agreement concerning localisation of electro-optical manufacturing in Indonesia.[17]
The proposed cooperation includes local manufacture of night-vision and related electro-optical equipment.[17]
Research and development
MKU maintains research and engineering activities related to lightweight protection and military electro-optics.
Its technology areas include:
- composite ballistic armour;
- advanced helmet design;
- hard armour;
- thermal imaging;
- image-intensifier technology;
- weapon-mounted night sights;
- multi-sensor electro-optics;
- platform protection; and
- aviation night vision.
The company has increasingly developed equipment intended to integrate ballistic protection, night vision, communications and other soldier-mounted technologies.
Gallery
- Indian Army soldier with a SIG 716i, for which an MKU-led consortium is supplying night sights
- HAL Prachand, associated with MKU's aviation night-vision work
- Indian Air Force CH-47F Chinooks
- Indian Army infantry during Yudh Abhyas
Management
Neeraj Gupta is the managing director of MKU Limited.[18]
The company has remained controlled by members of the Gupta family.
See also
References
- 1 2 3 4 "MKU – Ballistic Protection Systems". Army Technology. Retrieved 12 August 2026.
- ↑ Shankar, Ravi (15 August 2015). "MKU Armour: Body Work". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 12 August 2026.
- 1 2 3 "Ministry of Defence signs ₹659.47 Crore Deal for Procurement of Advanced Night Sight for Indian Army's 7.62 x 51mm Assault Rifles". Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Defence. 15 October 2025. Retrieved 12 August 2026.
- ↑ "India defence firm bags order from Ecuador". The Times of India. 28 July 2014. Retrieved 12 August 2026.
- ↑ "Special Uniform for Soldiers in Borders or Field Areas". Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Defence. 2 January 2018. Retrieved 12 August 2026.
- ↑ "Indian Army gets first batch of modern bullet-proof helmets". The Indian Express. 28 June 2017. Retrieved 12 August 2026.
- ↑ Sengupta, Vishal (17 February 2023). "Aero India 2023: MKU unveils ballistic helmet for Sikh soldiers". Janes Information Services. Retrieved 12 August 2026.
- ↑ Siddiqui, Huma (17 November 2023). "Bulletproof Innovation: MKU's breakthrough AK-47 helmet redefines soldier safety globally". Financial Express. Retrieved 12 August 2026.
- 1 2 "MKU to begin delivery of night-vision weapon sights to Indian Army". Janes Information Services. 23 July 2026. Retrieved 12 August 2026.
- ↑ "Govt awards contract worth Rs 659 crore to MKU for advanced night vision sights to Indian Army". Bharat Shakti. 15 October 2025. Retrieved 12 August 2026.
- ↑ "MKU to display chopper protection equipment at Berlin air show". Business Standard. 21 May 2014. Retrieved 12 August 2026.
- ↑ "MKU Limited bags Indian Air Force aircraft fleet MRO contracts as first private player in India". India Sentinels. 29 April 2026. Retrieved 12 August 2026.
- ↑ "South-South Cooperation: Top military officials from Brazil head to Aero-India". Financial Express. 31 January 2021. Retrieved 12 August 2026.
- ↑ Deshpande, Smruti (20 October 2024). "Indian Army helmets in spotlight. Upgrades over the yrs & how they stack up against US & China's gear". ThePrint. Retrieved 12 August 2026.
- ↑ "MKU secures major multi-year ballistic helmet contract in Asia". ET Manufacturing. 15 July 2025. Retrieved 12 August 2026.
- 1 2 "MKU's Strategic Joint Venture in Saudi Arabia". Milipol. 17 February 2026. Retrieved 12 August 2026.
- 1 2 "Eurosatory 2026: India's MKU targets Indonesia partnership with Republikorp". Janes Information Services. 22 June 2026. Retrieved 12 August 2026.
- ↑ Basu, Nayanima (24 December 2015). "New offset policy is a shot-in-the-arm for domestic defence industry, say analysts". Business Line. Retrieved 12 August 2026.