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India and Belgium have agreed to significantly expand defense and industrial cooperation, including the local production of 70mm rockets, ammunition manufacturing, naval mine-countermeasure systems, marine engines and advanced drones.

The agreements were reached during Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever’s visit to India this week. The Prime Minister was accompanied by Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken and a delegation of 15 Belgian defense companies.

The two countries signed a series of agreements covering defense, trade, maritime security, advanced manufacturing, research and other areas.

The cooperation reflects India’s growing effort to strengthen domestic defense production while giving Belgian companies greater access to one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing defense markets.

70mm Rockets Production in India

One of the main agreements involves Thales Belgium and India’s Kalyani Strategic Systems, which will cooperate to produce Thales-made 70mm rockets entirely in India.

The first rocket produced under the arrangement is expected in early 2027, according to the Belgian Defense Ministry. The agreement is designed to expand India’s domestic production capacity while also providing Thales with an additional source of supply for international orders. Belgian officials said the arrangement could also contribute to strengthening the security of Europe’s rocket supply chain.

The cooperation is part of India’s broader push to develop domestic defense manufacturing under its Make in India initiative. It also provides Belgian defense companies with an opportunity to participate in Indian production programs rather than simply supplying finished equipment.

We will also strengthen university and research links, StartUp connections and pathways for talent mobility.

India and Belgium are natural partners, united by democratic values, strong people-to-people ties and a shared commitment to peace and progress. pic.twitter.com/wavSBtfyt8

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 3, 2026

Ammunition Production Capacity to Expand

Another major agreement involves Belgian machinery manufacturer New Lachaussée and India’s Tembo Classic Engineering.

The project is valued at about $58 million and will involve the establishment of a complete production line for two ammunition calibers, along with tooling for two additional calibers.

The planned facilities are expected to provide production capacity of approximately 100 million rounds per year. Deliveries are scheduled for 2028 and 2029.

The project could become an important part of India’s effort to increase domestic ammunition production and reduce reliance on foreign suppliers. At the same time, it gives Belgian industrial companies a role in expanding India’s defense manufacturing base.

Maritime Cooperation

India and Belgium are also expanding cooperation in maritime security and naval technology. Belgian company Exail Belgium and Indian engineering group Larsen & Toubro will work together on autonomous systems used to detect, identify and neutralize naval mines.

The systems are intended to support mine-countermeasure operations, an area that has gained importance as countries seek to protect ports, shipping routes and naval forces from underwater threats.

Exail is already involved in a major mine-countermeasure program for the Belgian and Dutch navies, which includes the delivery of 12 Mine Countermeasure Vessels.

The new cooperation with India could therefore create opportunities for the transfer of technology and expertise between European and Indian maritime industries.

Belgium also plans to strengthen broader maritime cooperation with India. De Wever said a full Belgian delegation from the maritime and port sector would visit India in February next year, with the objective of developing concrete projects between the two countries.

He said safe and reliable maritime supply chains have become increasingly important as conflicts and geopolitical tensions disrupt global trade.

De Wever argued that stronger trade relations between reliable partners are particularly important during periods of global uncertainty and said the India-European Union Free Trade Agreement could provide a foundation for further cooperation.

Marine Engine Cooperation

Another industrial partnership involves the Anglo Belgian Corporation and India’s Kirloskar Oil Engines. The two companies are discussing cooperation that could allow the Belgian company to provide expertise to support the development of India’s first fully domestically produced 6-megawatt marine diesel engine.

The project could strengthen India’s ability to manufacture high-powered marine engines domestically while allowing Belgian industry to participate in India’s growing maritime and shipbuilding sectors.

The initiative is also consistent with the broader focus of the India-Belgium relationship on advanced manufacturing and maritime capabilities.

Drones and Counter-Drone Systems

The new agreements also cover unmanned aerial systems. Belgian company Sol-One and India’s DGVK Enterprises are working to introduce several Belgian-developed drone systems to the Indian market.

These include the Saboteur armed quadplane, designed to attack supply chains, as well as low-cost drone interceptors known as Buzzkill and Hitchhiker.

The Indian armed forces have requested information about the systems and want to test the aircraft. Belgian officials said that if the tests are successful, they could quickly lead to a large-scale order.

The cooperation reflects the growing importance of unmanned systems in modern warfare and India’s increasing interest in low-cost drones and counter-drone technologies.

Beyond individual industrial projects, the Belgian Security & Defense Industry and the Society of Indian Defense Manufacturers signed a cooperation agreement designed to make it easier for companies from both countries to participate in joint development programs under India’s Make in India initiative.

Francken highlighted the scale of the Indian defense market and the opportunities created by the country’s military modernization plans.

“The scale is enormous. India is modernizing one of the largest armed forces in the world,” Francken said. “For companies whose technology gains access to these program, this can quickly translate into major orders and major contracts. The agreement between BSDI and SIDM opens that door.”

The arrangement could allow Belgian companies to become more closely integrated into Indian defense programs while helping Indian manufacturers gain access to European technologies and industrial expertise.

Broader Trade and Strategic Cooperation

The defense agreements form part of a much wider effort by India and Belgium to deepen economic and strategic relations.

Modi said the two countries had agreed to expand cooperation in trade, defense, clean energy, critical minerals, semiconductors, research and talent mobility.

“Today, during the talks with PM Bart de Wever, we agreed to deepen cooperation across trade, defense, clean energy, critical minerals, semiconductors, research and talent mobility,” Modi said. India and Belgium have also established an Investment Fast-Track Mechanism for Belgian companies and plan to work toward doubling bilateral trade over the next five years.

The broader relationship is developing alongside the India-European Union trade agreement, which is intended to reduce tariffs and increase trade between India and the European bloc.

Indian officials have emphasized that the agreement could create new opportunities for European companies in sectors ranging from manufacturing and technology to defense and infrastructure.

Maritime Supply Chains and Strategic Resilience

Maritime security has emerged as one of the most important areas of the expanding relationship. De Wever said that increasing geopolitical instability has made secure maritime supply chains more important, while Indian officials have identified ports and maritime infrastructure as important areas for future cooperation.

The two countries are therefore looking beyond traditional defense equipment sales and toward longer-term industrial partnerships involving production, technology, research and training.

India’s Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said the economies of India and Belgium are complementary in several important sectors, including diamonds and jewelry, semiconductors, green hydrogen and ports, defense and advanced manufacturing, and agriculture and food processing.

He said that in the face of global uncertainty, countries have a choice between being affected by instability or building stronger partnerships. India and Belgium have chosen to strengthen cooperation across multiple sectors, with defense and advanced manufacturing forming a central part of the relationship.

Military and Security Cooperation

The two countries also signed a Letter of Intent for broader structural defense cooperation. The agreement covers military training, exchanges between officers, research and development, joint exercises, and maritime security.

This could provide a framework for cooperation that goes beyond individual procurement and industrial agreements. It could also increase interaction between the Indian and Belgian armed forces and support greater cooperation in maritime security and defense technology. The combination of military cooperation and industrial partnerships could create a longer-term defense relationship between the two countries.

With new production projects, military exchanges, maritime cooperation, and investment mechanisms now being developed, India and Belgium are moving their relationship beyond traditional trade toward a broader strategic and defense-industrial partnership.