Mumbai, February 16, 2026: India and France are poised to take their strategic partnership to a new level as Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and French Minister of the Armed Forces and Veterans Catherine Vautrin co-chair the 6th India–France Annual Defence Dialogue in Bengaluru on February 17.
The high-level talks are expected to be among the most significant in recent years, marking a shift away from traditional “off-the-shelf” arms purchases toward deeper industrial collaboration, joint manufacturing, and long-term security cooperation.
Renewing the 10-Year Strategic Roadmap
At the core of the dialogue is the renewal of the India–France Bilateral Defence Cooperation Agreement for another decade. The updated pact will expand cooperation in key areas such as intelligence sharing, cyber security, maritime domain awareness in the Indian Ocean, and joint research and development of next-generation combat platforms.
HAMMER Missile Manufacturing in India
In a major boost to India’s “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” (self-reliant India) initiative, the two sides are expected to oversee the signing of a memorandum of understanding for a joint venture to manufacture HAMMER precision-guided missiles in India.
The HAMMER system is currently deployed on Indian Air Force fighter jets including the Rafale and Tejas. Local manufacturing is expected to secure a reliable supply chain for the IAF while significantly reducing per-unit costs and dependence on imports.
Broader Defence Cooperation Agenda
Other major items on the agenda include finalizing the roadmap for an additional order of Scorpene-class submarines, advancing co-development of a 110-kilonewton aero-engine for India’s Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), and strengthening space-based defence cooperation between the two countries.
The dialogue will also address regional security challenges, with a focus on coordinating strategies for a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” amid rising maritime tensions.
Why Bengaluru Matters
Holding the talks in Bengaluru is seen as a strategic decision. The city is home to major Indian defence and aerospace organizations such as Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and Bharat Electronics Limited, as well as several French aerospace offices. After the dialogue, the ministers are expected to visit the Tata-Airbus H125 Final Assembly Line, highlighting the growing role of private-sector collaboration in bilateral defence ties.
This visit marks Catherine Vautrin’s first trip to India in her current role and underscores France’s continued commitment to India as its foremost strategic partner in Asia.