- Strengthening India’s Place in Global Defence Supply Chains
By Sangeeta Saxena
Parc Des Exhibitions, Paris. As India seeks to establish itself as a major player in the global defence manufacturing ecosystem, industry engagement with international partners has become increasingly important. Against this backdrop, the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) mounted a Defence Business Mission to Eurosatory 2026 in Paris, one of the world’s largest and most influential land and air defence exhibitions. The delegation undertook an intensive programme of meetings with leading defence companies, industry associations and government-linked organisations from Europe, North America and Israel. The mission aimed to strengthen India’s role in global defence supply chains, explore technology partnerships and create new avenues for industrial collaboration.
The FICCI Defence Business Mission participated in the inauguration ceremony of the India Pavilion at Eurosatory 2026, joining Indian industry representatives, government officials and international stakeholders. The pavilion served as a significant platform to showcase India’s growing defence manufacturing capabilities, indigenous technologies and industrial strengths to a global audience. The delegation viewed the pavilion as an opportunity to highlight India’s progress in defence indigenisation, engage with international partners and explore new avenues for business growth, technology transfer and strategic collaboration.
The 34-member delegation arrived in Paris with the objective of enhancing the presence and position of Indian companies in global defence manufacturing supply chains. Organised by FICCI as part of its mission to promote Indian industry worldwide, the delegation remained present throughout the five-day exhibition, meeting key international defence companies and organisations to discuss opportunities for collaboration with Indian industry.
Leading the mission was Rudra Shriram, Co-Chair, FICCI Defence and Homeland Security Committee and Deputy Managing Director of DCM Shriram International, a diversified Indian conglomerate with interests spanning industrial fibres, defence equipment, shipping containers and engineering products. The mission was managed by Akanksha Sharma and Somendra Gautam, both Deputy Directors at FICCI.
On the opening day of Eurosatory 2026, the delegation focused on engagements with major French and European defence manufacturers. A key meeting was held with Safran, one of France’s leading aerospace and defence companies with a substantial presence in India across civil aviation, defence aviation and defence manufacturing. Discussions explored opportunities for greater cooperation with Indian companies and potential expansion of industrial partnerships. The delegation also met representatives of the Roxel Group, a European leader in tactical propulsion systems. Discussions centred on possible collaboration opportunities with Indian defence manufacturers and the role Indian industry could play within global propulsion and missile-related supply chains.
Earlier in the day, the delegation paid a courtesy visit to the India Pavilion and interacted with Indian exhibitors participating at Eurosatory, gaining insights into their products, technologies and international business engagements.
The second day of the mission saw the delegation broaden its engagement with European defence stakeholders. The delegation visited several leading international pavilions and defence industry exhibits, including the German Pavilion and Dassault Aviation. Productive interactions were held with senior industry representatives on defence industrial cooperation, innovation and business opportunities. In addition, the delegation engaged with industry leaders from Germany and the Czech Republic, holding discussions with BDLV, Dassault Systèmes and AOBP. These meetings focused on strengthening defence industrial cooperation, advancing technology and innovation partnerships and fostering future collaboration between Indian and European defence ecosystems. The discussions reflected growing interest among European defence companies in India’s expanding defence manufacturing sector and the opportunities presented by the country’s indigenisation initiatives.
On Day Three, the FICCI Defence Business Mission intensified its international outreach with engagements involving leading defence stakeholders from the United States, France and Israel. The delegation visited the US Pavilion and participated in a guided tour organised by the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) and the US Commercial Service. The interactions provided insights into American defence technologies and potential areas for industrial cooperation.The delegation also met representatives from Business France and Thales to discuss defence collaboration, innovation and future partnership opportunities.
Further engagements were held with representatives from SRC Battle Space Awareness & Force Protection and Israeli defence companies including Smart Shooter, SCD, Netline, Autonomous Guard and Beesense. Discussions focused on emerging technologies, advanced defence solutions, technological cooperation and opportunities for industry partnerships. These engagements underscored the growing importance of India as a partner in next-generation defence technologies, including battlefield awareness systems, autonomous solutions, force protection technologies and advanced defence electronics.
The mission continued its momentum on Day Four with visits to several major defence companies, industry associations and national pavilions. The delegation held interactions with representatives from Babcock, the UK Pavilion, KNDS, ADS, MEDEF, COGES and MBDA. Discussions focused on strengthening defence industrial cooperation, identifying opportunities for future collaboration and exploring emerging technologies that could support the growth of India’s defence manufacturing ecosystem.
The engagements also provided opportunities to examine evolving trends in land systems, missile technologies, advanced platforms, industrial partnerships and international supply-chain integration. The meetings highlighted the increasing interest among global defence companies and industry organisations in partnering with Indian firms as India expands its manufacturing capabilities and seeks a larger role in international defence production networks.
The FICCI Defence Business Mission to Eurosatory 2026 demonstrated the growing confidence and global aspirations of India’s defence industry. Through a comprehensive programme of engagements spanning France, Germany, the United States, the United Kingdom, the Czech Republic and Israel, the delegation successfully showcased India’s capabilities while exploring new opportunities for technology cooperation, industrial partnerships and supply-chain integration. The mission reinforced India’s emergence as a credible and increasingly important player in the global defence manufacturing landscape and reflected FICCI’s continuing efforts to facilitate international collaboration in support of the nation’s defence indigenisation and export ambitions.
The Defence and Homeland Security Division of FICCI plays a pivotal role in supporting India’s vision of self-reliance in defence manufacturing while fostering strong international partnerships. Acting as a bridge between industry, the armed forces, government agencies and global defence companies, the division works to create an enabling ecosystem for innovation, technology development, indigenisation and exports. Domestically, it promotes policy advocacy, facilitates industry-government dialogue, supports MSMEs and start-ups, and encourages collaboration across the defence industrial value chain. Internationally, it leads business missions, facilitates B2B and B2G engagements, promotes Indian defence capabilities at major global exhibitions, and helps forge strategic partnerships, technology collaborations and supply-chain linkages with leading defence companies worldwide. Through these efforts, FICCI aims to strengthen India’s position as a trusted defence manufacturing hub, enhance global competitiveness of Indian industry and contribute to the nation’s long-term security and economic growth objectives.
