The India-France 6th Annual Defence Dialogue held in Bengaluru today signed agreements to renew Industrial Collaboration and Co-production for the next ten years.  Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and French Defence Minister Catherine Vautrin were present on this occasion. An agreement was also signed between Bharat Electronics BEL and Safran Electronics France to manufacture the Hammer air-to-ground Missile in India. 

 

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, in his opening remarks, reaffirmed the strength of the Indo-French strategic partnership amid evolving global security challenges. Noting that the recent India-EU Security and Defence Partnership provides a broader framework for enhanced bilateral and regional cooperation, he emphasised that defence remains a central pillar of India-France ties. He welcomed Cathrine Vautrin to India once again.

 

In her opening remarks, the French Defence Minister underlined the historic and forward-looking nature of the partnership, particularly in the aerospace and defence sector between the two countries. She called for deeper strategic dialogue amid rising geopolitical tensions.