Rajnath Singh Invites Australian Firms to Co-Develop Defence Systems with India
At the first India-Australia Defence Industry Round Table in Sydney, the Raksha Mantri calls for deeper industrial, R&D, and strategic collaboration under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
GG News Bureau
Sydney, 10th Oct: Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh addressed the maiden India-Australia Defence Industry Business Round Table in Sydney on Friday, reaffirming that the partnership between both nations is entering a transformative phase of strategic and industrial cooperation.
“Under the banner of our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, established in 2020, we stand at a pivotal juncture to reposition our defence relations as co-creators of a secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific,” Rajnath Singh said, highlighting the growing alignment between New Delhi and Canberra in defence, innovation, and technology.
He emphasised that India, now the world’s fourth-largest and fastest-growing major economy, is undergoing a structural transformation in manufacturing. “Our defence production touched ₹1.51 lakh crore (about USD 18 billion) last year, marking an 18% increase from the previous year. Defence exports reached ₹23,622 crore (USD 2.76 billion), with Indian firms now exporting to nearly 100 countries,” he stated.
The Raksha Mantri invited Australian companies to co-develop and co-produce high-end systems, including propulsion technologies, autonomous underwater vehicles, flight simulators, and advanced materials. He noted that the two nations’ industrial strengths—Australia’s niche technologies and India’s vast manufacturing scale—can together drive regional security and innovation.
“To accelerate defence R&D in the private sector, we opened avenues for free-of-cost technology transfer through DRDO. There are attractive schemes for developing cutting-edge technologies, and they are giving excellent results,” he said.
Singh also highlighted successful partnerships such as Indo-MIM Pvt. Ltd. with Thales Australia, Tata Advanced Systems with W&E Platt Pty Ltd, and Munitions India Ltd. with Aqusport, noting that these collaborations reflect the complementarity of the two nations’ industrial ecosystems.
He welcomed Australia’s proposal for a reciprocal provision of defence articles and services MoU and appreciated Canberra’s move to designate India as a “Top Tier Partner,” easing technology sharing and defence collaboration.
The Raksha Mantri underscored opportunities for joint R&D, co-production of naval vessels, and ship repair under India’s robust shipbuilding ecosystem. “By diversifying supply chains, building joint capacities, and investing in innovation, we can contribute to a resilient, secure, and self-reliant Indo-Pacific,” he added.
The Round Table was jointly organised by India’s Ministry of Defence, the Australian Department of Defence, the Newland Global Group, and the Australia-India Business Council. It was attended by Australia’s Assistant Minister for Defence Peter Khalil, senior officials, diplomats, and industry leaders from both nations.
