India, South Korea Expand Defence and Logistics Cooperation

India and South Korea review defence industry and logistics cooperation at the 10th JCM in New Delhi, with officials and companies discussing greater collaboration in defence production and bilateral defence ties.

India and the Republic of Korea review ongoing cooperation in defence industries and logistics and discuss measures to expand bilateral defence ties at the 10th Joint Committee Meeting (JCM) held in New Delhi. The discussions focus on strengthening engagement between defence industries and increasing cooperation in defence production and logistics.

The meeting is co-chaired by Dinesh Mahur, Additional Secretary (Defence Production), Ministry of Defence, and Kim Il Dong, Vice Minister of South Korea’s Defence Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA). Senior officials from both countries also participate in the meeting.

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South Korean Ambassador to India Seong Ho Lee and Dr Vijay Namdeorao Zade, Joint Secretary (Naval Systems), Department of Defence Production, attend the discussions along with other government representatives.

Representatives from leading defence companies of both countries also take part in the meeting. India is represented by Larsen & Toubro (L&T) and Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML), while South Korea is represented by Hanwha Aerospace, Korean Air, Hanwha Systems, Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) and DS Navcours.

The participation of defence companies provides an industry-level platform to discuss opportunities for cooperation in defence production and related supply chains. The meeting also supports engagement between companies and government institutions involved in defence acquisition and manufacturing.

On the sidelines of the JCM, Kim Il Dong calls on Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth. During the interaction, India and South Korea reaffirm their commitment to strengthening bilateral defence cooperation and expanding collaboration in defence industries and logistics.

The latest meeting builds on the broader strategic defence partnership between India and South Korea. In April 2026, the two countries identified defence industries as an important area of their Special Strategic Partnership and agreed to deepen cooperation in defence technologies. They also highlighted the successful joint production of K9-Vajra self-propelled howitzers and plans to explore similar cooperation in other defence platforms.

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The two countries have also agreed to launch the Korea-India Defence Accelerator (KIND-X) to connect defence businesses, startups, investors, incubators and universities from both sides.

The 10th JCM therefore provides a platform for India and South Korea to review existing cooperation and identify further opportunities in defence production, industry engagement and logistics.