Berlin/New Delhi, June 24: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has reiterated the need for deeper defence industrial collaboration between India and Germany, highlighting the growing strategic convergence between the two countries and calling for greater cooperation in advanced defence technologies, co-development and co-production initiatives.
Focus on Defence Manufacturing and Co-Production
During engagements with German leaders and industry representatives, Rajnath Singh stressed that India and Germany should move beyond a traditional buyer-seller relationship and work towards joint development and manufacturing of defence equipment. The discussions focused on strengthening defence industrial cooperation, military-to-military engagements and emerging domains such as artificial intelligence, cyber security and drone technologies.
Defence Industrial Cooperation Roadmap
A key outcome of the engagement has been the advancement of a Defence Industrial Cooperation Roadmap aimed at creating a long-term framework for collaboration between the defence industries of both countries. The roadmap seeks to promote joint research, development and production while integrating Indian and German defence ecosystems more closely.
Germany Seen as Key Technology Partner
Rajnath Singh invited German companies to partner with India in niche technologies such as advanced radar systems, sensors, artificial intelligence-enabled unmanned platforms and next-generation defence solutions. He underlined that India’s rapidly expanding defence manufacturing ecosystem offers significant opportunities for foreign partners under the Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives.
Submarine Cooperation Gains Momentum
Defence cooperation between the two countries is also expected to receive a boost through the proposed submarine programme involving Germany’s TKMS and India’s Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders. German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius recently expressed confidence that the long-awaited submarine agreement could be concluded soon, marking one of the biggest defence partnerships between the two nations.
Strategic Partnership Expands
India and Germany are marking 75 years of diplomatic relations this year. Rajnath Singh noted that bilateral ties have steadily strengthened over time, expanding beyond trade and diplomacy into critical areas of defence and security. Germany remains India’s largest trading partner in Europe, and both nations are increasingly working together on emerging technologies and strategic security challenges.
Analysts believe enhanced defence-industrial cooperation with Germany could support India’s long-term goal of becoming a major global defence manufacturing hub while also helping Europe diversify strategic supply chains and strengthen security partnerships in the Indo-Pacific.