Rajnath Singh and Catherine Vautrin co-chair 6th India–France Annual Defence Dialogue; defence pact renewed for 10 years
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and French Armed Forces Minister Catherine Vautrin co-chaired the 6th India–France Annual Defence Dialogue in Bengaluru, Karnataka, on 17 February 2026.
Summary
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and French Armed Forces Minister Catherine Vautrin co-chaired the 6th India–France Annual Defence Dialogue in Bengaluru, Karnataka, on 17 February 2026. The bilateral defence cooperation agreement was renewed for another 10 years. Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and Safran Electronics and Defence signed an MoU on a joint venture to manufacture Hammer missiles in India. The two sides also announced the reciprocal deployment of officers at Indian Army and French Land Forces establishments, and agreed to use the India–EU Security and Defence Partnership for tangible outcomes.
Key facts
- Date and place
- 17 February 2026, Bengaluru
- Edition
- 6th India–France Annual Defence Dialogue
- Co-chairs
- Rajnath Singh and Catherine Vautrin
- Agreement
- Defence cooperation agreement renewed for 10 years
- Industry
- BEL–Safran JV MoU to make Hammer missiles in India
- Military
- Reciprocal deployment of officers (Army and French Land Forces)
Practice MCQs 2 questions
Bharat Electronics Limited and Safran signed an MoU on 17 February 2026 for a joint venture to manufacture which missiles in India?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — Hammer
BEL and Safran Electronics and Defence signed an MoU on a joint venture to manufacture Hammer missiles in India.
Consider the following statements about the 6th India–France Annual Defence Dialogue held on 17 February 2026: 1. It was held in Bengaluru. 2. The bilateral defence cooperation agreement was renewed for another 10 years. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct. The dialogue was co-chaired in Bengaluru and the defence cooperation agreement was renewed for 10 years.