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. 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. 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.
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. 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.
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). 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. 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.
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.
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. 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. 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. The sight underwent trials across different operational environments before selection.
Aviation night vision
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.
Platform armour
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. 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. 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.
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. 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.
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. The customer was not publicly identified.
International industrial partnerships
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