India’s Ministry of Defence and Belgium’s Defence Ministry have called for expanded industrial collaboration to jointly develop and produce defence equipment. The announcement came during a high-level meeting in New Delhi on 3 September 2026, attended by India’s Defence Minister and Belgium’s Minister of Defence and Foreign Trade, along with industry representatives from both countries.
What was discussed and agreed
Both countries identified several areas for partnership, including cyber security, artificial intelligence-enabled unmanned aerial systems, underwater vehicles, and complex weapon systems. Belgium’s Defence Minister stressed the strategic value of the India-EU partnership across maritime security, information security and aerospace.
India’s Defence Minister highlighted the country’s shift away from defence imports toward self-reliance through schemes like Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India. He noted that India’s defence sector now includes Defence Public Sector Units, a private sector, and over 16,000 micro, small and medium enterprises working across aerospace, naval and land platforms, defence electronics, cyber security, space and unmanned systems.
India has opened defence investment to foreign companies at 74% Foreign Direct Investment under the automatic route, and up to 100% through government approval. The new space policy allows 100% foreign investment. Defence Industrial Corridors are operational in Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh, with more planned in Maharashtra, Assam and other regions.
During the event, eight separate memorandums of understanding were signed between Indian and Belgian companies covering robotics, defence systems, engineering and related technologies.
What this means for you
This collaboration signals India’s strategy to partner with established defence manufacturers while building domestic capabilities. Indian defence companies and startups gain access to Belgian technology and expertise, while foreign manufacturers gain entry to India’s growing defence market and manufacturing base. For citizens, stronger defence partnerships aim to enhance national security capabilities through jointly developed advanced systems.