Defense Minister Rajnath Singh will hold talks with his French counterpart Catherine Vautrin in Bengaluru on February 17. The bilateral dialogue is expected to yield key results that will strengthen defense cooperation between the two nations, news agency PTI reported.
The defense cooperation agreement is expected to be renewed for another 10 years with a memorandum of understanding on a joint venture for “production of Hammer rocketswill probably be signed at a meeting in the presence of both ministers, Ministry of Defense he said on Sunday.
“The two ministers are also expected to witness the virtual launch of the final assembly of the Tata Airbus H125 light utility helicopter by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron at Vemagal, Karnataka,” the statement said.
The meeting comes as French President Emmanuel Macron visits Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Mumbai on Tuesday before traveling to New Delhi to attend the India AI Impact Summit 2026.
“India-France Annual Defense Dialogue”
Defense Minister Singh will co-chair the sixth India-France Annual Defense Dialogue with Minister of Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs of France Catherine Vautrin on February 17 in Bengaluru, the ministry said.
The meeting will review the full range of bilateral defense cooperation with a focus on expanding industrial cooperation, the officials said.
An announcement is also awaited regarding the inter-deployment of officers Indian Army and French Ground Forces facility, the Defense Department said.
Defense has traditionally formed an important pillar of the relationship between the two countries.
“Strong and enduring bilateral ties” were vividly reflected in 2024-2025 through a series of significant exchanges, the statement said.
PM Modi was the guest of honour Bastille Day parade in July 2023, before the French President attended the 2024 Republic Day parade as the chief guest.
“The recent India-EU security and defense partnership marks a significant step in deepening collective engagement with European nations,” the ministry said.
Military cooperation is also growing. India and France regularly conduct three major exercises – Exercise Shakti with the Army, Exercise Varuna with the Navy and Exercise Garuda with the Air Force – and several other occasional engagements, she said.
It will be Vautrin’s first visit to India since taking over as French Defense Minister on October 12, 2025, the statement said.
The Annual Defense Dialogue between India and France is a structured bilateral ministerial-level meeting to review and guide defense and security cooperation.
Defense has traditionally formed an important pillar of the relationship between the two countries.
The fifth edition of the meeting took place in France from 11 to 13 October 2023.