India and South Korea Deepen Defence Industry and Logistics Cooperation at 10th Joint Committee Meeting

India and the Republic of Korea have moved to strengthen defence industrial cooperation, logistics coordination and engagement between their defence companies following the 10th India–Republic of Korea Joint Committee Meeting on Defence Industries and Logistics Cooperation in New Delhi.

Held on September 29, 2026, the meeting brought together senior defence officials and major companies from both countries. The discussions focused on the existing bilateral defence relationship while exploring opportunities for greater collaboration in defence production, industrial partnerships and logistics. The Ministry of Defence said the meeting provided a platform for expanding cooperation between the defence industries of India and South Korea.

Defence Production at the Centre of India-South Korea Talks

The Joint Committee Meeting was co-chaired by Dinesh Mahur, Additional Secretary for Defence Production in India’s Ministry of Defence, and Kim Il Dong, Vice Minister of South Korea’s Defence Acquisition Program Administration, or DAPA.

The participation of senior officials from the defence-production establishments of the two countries gave the talks a strong industrial focus. South Korean Ambassador to India Seong Ho Lee and Dr Vijay Namdeorao Zade, Joint Secretary for Naval Systems in India’s Department of Defence Production, were also among those attending the meeting.

Rather than limiting the engagement to government-level defence dialogue, the meeting included representatives of prominent Indian and South Korean defence companies. This provided a direct channel for discussions on manufacturing, technology, logistics and possible future industrial cooperation.

L&T and BEML Join Major South Korean Defence Companies

India’s industrial representation included Larsen & Toubro and BEML, two companies with extensive involvement in the country’s defence manufacturing ecosystem.

The Republic of Korea was represented by Hanwha Aerospace, Korean Air, Hanwha Systems, Korea Aerospace Industries and DS Navcours. Their participation brought together companies operating across land systems, aerospace, electronics, aviation and naval technologies.

The composition of the industry delegation is significant because India-South Korea defence relations already have an established industrial foundation. South Korea’s Hanwha has previously worked with Larsen & Toubro on the K9 Vajra-T self-propelled artillery programme, creating one of the most visible examples of Indo-Korean defence manufacturing cooperation.

The latest Joint Committee Meeting therefore builds upon an existing relationship rather than starting an entirely new industrial dialogue. Future cooperation can potentially draw upon India’s expanding defence manufacturing base and South Korea’s established capabilities in advanced land, aerospace, naval and electronic systems.

Logistics Cooperation Gains Greater Attention

Defence logistics formed another important part of the talks. India and South Korea reviewed their ongoing cooperation and discussed ways to broaden engagement in both defence industries and logistics.

Modern defence partnerships increasingly extend beyond the acquisition of equipment. Maintenance networks, component supply, repair infrastructure, lifecycle support, spares management and industrial supply chains can determine the operational availability of military platforms over several decades.

Closer logistics cooperation can consequently complement defence manufacturing partnerships by creating more durable links between the industrial ecosystems of the two countries.

South Korean Defence Acquisition Vice Minister Meets Sanjay Seth

On the sidelines of the Joint Committee Meeting, Kim Il Dong met Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth.

According to the Ministry of Defence, the two sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral defence cooperation and deepening collaboration in defence industries and logistics.

The meeting underlined the institutional nature of India-South Korea defence engagement, with discussions taking place simultaneously at government, defence-acquisition and industry levels.

India-South Korea Defence Partnership Has an Industrial Foundation

South Korea has emerged as an important defence technology and manufacturing partner for India, particularly through the K9 Vajra-T programme. The involvement of Indian and Korean companies in the latest meeting indicates that industrial participation remains a central element of the bilateral relationship.

India’s defence policy increasingly encourages domestic manufacturing, technology absorption, localisation and partnerships between Indian and foreign companies. South Korea, meanwhile, has developed a large export-oriented defence industry covering artillery, armoured vehicles, aircraft, missiles, naval systems, sensors and defence electronics.

The complementary strengths of the two industrial ecosystems create opportunities for cooperation extending beyond individual equipment purchases towards manufacturing, maintenance, supply chains and potentially joint development in selected areas.

Wider Opportunities Across Aerospace, Naval and Electronic Systems

The companies participating in the meeting also illustrate the breadth of possible cooperation.

Hanwha Aerospace has capabilities spanning artillery systems, armoured platforms, engines and aerospace technologies. Korea Aerospace Industries is South Korea’s principal aerospace manufacturer, while Hanwha Systems operates in defence electronics, sensors, radar and command-and-control technologies. Korean Air also maintains significant aerospace and unmanned-system capabilities.

On the Indian side, Larsen & Toubro has an extensive defence portfolio covering artillery, armoured systems, naval platforms and engineering, while BEML manufactures military mobility platforms and heavy equipment.

No specific new procurement contract or co-development programme was announced following the meeting. The official statement instead described the discussions as an effort to strengthen and expand cooperation between the defence industries of the two countries.

India and South Korea Build on a Mature Defence Relationship

The 10th Joint Committee Meeting demonstrates the growing institutional depth of India-South Korea defence ties. Regular government-to-government dialogue combined with direct participation by major defence manufacturers provides both countries with a framework for identifying practical areas of cooperation.

For India, deeper engagement with South Korea can support the continuing expansion of domestic defence production and diversification of international technology partnerships. For South Korean companies, India’s growing defence manufacturing ecosystem offers opportunities for long-term industrial collaboration rather than purely export-driven relationships.

With government officials, defence acquisition authorities and manufacturers now engaging through an established bilateral mechanism, India and South Korea have created a stronger foundation for expanding cooperation in defence production, logistics and advanced military technologies.

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References

Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Defence — “India and Republic of Korea Hold 10th Joint Committee Meeting on Defence Industries and Logistics Cooperation,” 29 September 2026.
https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=2316749

Akashvani News / News On AIR — “10th India-Republic of Korea JCM on Defence Industries & Logistics Cooperation takes place in New Delhi,” 30 September 2026.
https://newsonair.gov.in/10th-india-republic-of-korea-jcm-on-defence-industries-logistics-cooperation-takes-place-in-new-delhi/

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