Current Affairs - Defence

France is collaborating with India to establish the National Centre of Excellence in Aeronautics and Defence at Kanpur under the PM-SETU scheme. The initiative was announced during the India–France Year of Innovation, reflecting deepening bilateral cooperation in advanced technologies, defence manufacturing, and skill development. The Centre will focus on aeronautics, maintenance and overhaul services, airport operations, and space-related training. This partnership builds upon the India–France Strategic Partnership and follows a 2025 Memorandum of Understanding in vocational education and training, aiming to create globally competitive aviation professionals aligned with international standards.

The H125 Project was launched by Narendra Modi and Emmanuel Macron as part of an upgraded India-France partnership. The initiative establishes India’s first private-sector helicopter manufacturing facility in Karnataka, featuring a Final Assembly Line for H125 helicopters. The project supports domestic production and exports, with an initial capacity of 10 helicopters per year. Known for its high-altitude performance, including landing on Mount Everest, the H125 will serve civil and potential military needs, strengthening India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat mission and deepening strategic aerospace collaboration between the two nations.

The MILAN Village was inaugurated at the Eastern Naval Command in Visakhapatnam during Exercise MILAN 2026, a flagship multinational naval exercise hosted by the Indian Navy. The initiative brings together naval personnel and delegates from more than 70 countries to strengthen maritime cooperation and mutual understanding. The village showcases Indian cultural performances, regional cuisine, and naval-themed exhibits, fostering camaraderie and cultural exchange among participating nations while enhancing collaborative maritime security efforts in the Indo-Pacific region.

Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh inaugurated the Missile Integration Facility at Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) in Bengaluru. The facility strengthens indigenous missile system integration and supports faster deployment of advanced air defence systems like Akash. During the event, the Akash 3rd and 4th Regiment Combat Systems were flagged off, and the Mountain Fire Control Radar was unveiled. BEL also launched its AI Policy and inaugurated a Centre of Excellence for Artificial Intelligence in Pune, enhancing India’s self-reliant defence manufacturing capabilities and promoting advanced technologies such as AI-driven threat detection and network-centric warfare systems.

Greece signed a Joint Declaration of Intent with India to enhance defence industrial cooperation and outline a structured five-year roadmap. The agreement aligns India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative with Greece’s Agenda 2030 defence reforms, promoting co-development, co-production, and technology partnerships. Both nations also exchanged the Bilateral Military Cooperation Plan for 2026 to expand joint exercises, training, and strategic engagement. Additionally, Greece announced the deployment of a liaison officer to the Information Fusion Centre–Indian Ocean Region in Gurugram, strengthening maritime security collaboration and reinforcing their growing Indo-Mediterranean strategic partnership.