NEW DELHI: Defence minister Rajnath Singh has invited the German industry to co-produce with India, particularly in the field of niche technologies, as he underscored the need to forge partnerships based on reliability and shared interests, terming them indispensable in current shifts in geopolitical alignments, disruptions in supply chains and rapid technological transformations.While addressing German defence industry leaders during the Defence Investor Summit in Munich, Rajnath said Indian companies are keen to engage with German companies for co-development and co-production in areas, including advanced radar and sensor technology, multi-sensors, AI-enabled UAVs, sonobuoys and high-power low-frequency underwater transmitters.“India offers an expanding market, skilled workforce and evolving industrial ecosystem with stability, predictability and commitment to rule of law. It’s not a short-term opportunity, but a long-term strategic proposition,” he said, adding, “India’s self-reliance pursuit is not inward-looking, we see it as the ability to design, develop and produce with trusted partners.”Referring to the significant untapped potential under the ReArm Europe and Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiatives, Rajnath said, “We are moving towards a model where India is not merely a buyer of defence equipment, but a partner in design, development, and production. This shift creates new opportunities for global industry. In today’s interconnected and interdependent world, partnerships are not optional, they are essential.”
