KARNATAKA
6th India-France Annual Defence Dialogue to Be Held in Bengaluru
- 17 Feb 2026
- 2 min read
Why in News?
The Ministry of Defence has announced that Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh will co-chair the 6th India–France Annual Defence Dialogue with the Minister of the Armed Forces of France in Bengaluru, Karnataka, in February 2026.
Key Points:
- Focus: The dialogue will review the entire spectrum of defence cooperation between India and France, with an emphasis on expanding industrial collaboration and strategic ties.
- A long-term defence cooperation agreement between India and France is expected to be renewed for another 10 years during the dialogue.
- Joint Venture: An MoU is likely to be signed for a joint venture to manufacture Hammer missiles, indicating deeper collaborative defence manufacturing efforts.
- Reciprocal Military Deployment: Discussions are expected to cover reciprocal deployment of officers between the Indian Army and French Land Forces, enhancing interoperability and exchange.
- Both Ministers also slated to witness the virtual inauguration of the H125 Light Utility Helicopter final assembly by Tata Airbus at Vemagal, Karnataka.
- Strong Defence Relations: India and France have a long history of defence collaboration, including joint military exercises such as Exercise Shakti, Exercise Varuna, and Exercise Garuda, as well as high-level state visits that have reinforced strategic trust.
| Read More: India-France, Hammer missiles, |
