India-France defence cooperation strengthens with 6th Annual Defence Dialogue and new industrial projects

India and France are preparing a wider defence partnership as Defence Minister Rajnath Singh meets French counterpart Catherine Vautrin in Bengaluru on 17 February. The visit aligns with French President Emmanuel Macron’s presence in India, signalling strong political backing for a renewed long-term security, industrial and operational agenda.

Officials expect the sixth India-France Annual Defence Dialogue to finalise several deliverables. These include the extension of the existing defence cooperation agreement for another 10 years, a new industrial project on Hammer missiles, and decisions on closer army-to-army engagement through reciprocal officer placements in each other’s formations.

The Annual Defence Dialogue will be co-chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Catherine Vautrin, Minister of the Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs of France. This structured ministerial forum will review all existing cooperation on land, sea, air and emerging domains, while also giving guidance for future capability planning and bilateral security priorities.

Industrial ties are expected to be a central theme during the talks, reflecting a shared focus on co-development and co-production. An MoU is likely to be signed for a joint venture involving the "manufacturing of Hammer missiles", with the two ministers present during the formal ceremony, according to people aware of the preparations.

The defence ministry stated, "The two ministers are also expected to witness the virtual inauguration of the H125 Light Utility Helicopter Final Assembly of Tata Airbus by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron at Vemagal in Karnataka," highlighting a deeper push towards local manufacturing and integration of supply chains in the aerospace sector.

Officials note that broader industrial cooperation discussions will span joint production, technology partnerships and secure supply chains. These plans support India’s manufacturing ambitions while enabling French companies to increase participation in the Indian defence market through licensed production, local assembly and long-term maintenance arrangements for platforms, weapons and sub-systems.

India-France defence cooperation: political signalling and high-level visits

The Bengaluru dialogue sits within a busy calendar of India-France political engagement. Macron is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Mumbai on Tuesday, then travel to New Delhi for the India AI Impact Summit 2026, illustrating how defence planning overlaps with broader technology and strategic discussions between the two partners.

The defence ministry emphasised that the "strong and enduring bilateral ties" were visible through recent ceremonial events. PM Narendra Modi attended the Bastille Day Parade in July 2023 as Guest of Honour, while President Emmanuel Macron was Chief Guest at the Republic Day Parade 2024 in New Delhi, reinforcing mutual trust and alignment.

India-France defence cooperation: military exercises and European context

Military engagement has expanded through regular joint exercises, which test interoperability across multiple services and theatres. Exercise Shakti focuses on Army drills, Exercise Varuna covers naval operations and sea coordination, and Exercise Garuda involves Air Force units, while additional opportunity interactions refine procedures, communication standards and combined mission planning between the two countries.

Placing bilateral cooperation in a wider setting, the ministry said, "The recent India-EU Security and Defence Partnership marks a significant step in deepening collective engagement with European nations," underlining that the India-France relationship remains a core component of India’s broader outreach to Europe on security, defence industry and strategic affairs.

Engagement	Participants	Period / Date
India-France Annual Defence Dialogue, 6th edition	Rajnath Singh, Catherine Vautrin	17 February (Bengaluru)
Bastille Day Parade Guest of Honour	PM Narendra Modi	July 2023
Republic Day Parade Chief Guest	President Emmanuel Macron	2024
Vautrin assumes French defence portfolio	Catherine Vautrin	12 October 2025

India-France defence cooperation: leadership changes and continuity

The Bengaluru meeting will be Catherine Vautrin’s first official visit to India as French defence minister, after assuming the portfolio on 12 October 2025. The fifth Annual Defence Dialogue took place in France from 11-13 October 2023, and officials expect the current round to advance the same agenda while adding new industrial and operational elements.

By combining a 10-year extension of the defence pact, structured military exercises, reciprocal deployments and fresh industrial projects on missiles and helicopters, India and France are expected to reinforce defence as a central pillar of their partnership. These moves indicate continuity in strategy and a shared focus on long-term capability cooperation.