India and Czech Republic Expand Defence Industrial Collaboration
India and the Czech Republic agreed to expand defence industrial ties to promote domestic manufacturing and diversify suppliers for Soviet-origin equipment.
Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Czech First Deputy Prime Minister Karel Havlíček agreed to expand defence industrial collaboration following bilateral talks on October 13, 2026. The agreement focuses on promoting the Make-in-India and Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiatives under the India-Czech Joint Defence Committee.
The partnership aims to help India diversify its military suppliers and secure maintenance and spares for Soviet-origin equipment, specifically Tatra heavy trucks, as the conflict in Ukraine causes delays in Russia's defence industry. The two nations are also exploring joint research and development for drone and anti-drone systems and aligning technology with NATO standards.
This agreement builds on a strategic partnership on innovation established in 2024 between Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Petr Fiala. As part of the ongoing engagement, Karel Havlíček is scheduled to visit Bengaluru and Mumbai to interact with local industries. The leaders also used the talks to review existing joint ventures and discuss regional peace and security.
