Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has described his meeting with Belgium’s Defence Minister Theo Francken as “very productive”, highlighting continued efforts to strengthen bilateral defence and industrial cooperation between India and Belgium.

Singh’s remarks came after his engagement with the Belgian defence leadership. The meeting assumes significance as India seeks to expand defence partnerships with European countries and strengthen cooperation in areas including defence manufacturing, investment and maritime security.

India-Belgium Defence Engagement

India and Belgium have been exploring opportunities to deepen defence cooperation, including greater engagement in the maritime domain and the defence industrial sector.

Singh had earlier met Belgian Defence Minister Theo Francken in New Delhi in March 2025 during Princess Astrid’s visit to India. At that meeting, the two sides discussed the possibility of defence engagements in the Indo-Pacific, particularly in the maritime domain, as well as ways to strengthen defence-industrial cooperation. (Press Information Bureau)

Focus on Defence Industry

India has been encouraging foreign defence companies to invest in the country and integrate Indian manufacturers into global supply chains. During the earlier India-Belgium discussions, Singh welcomed Belgian investment in India's defence sector and suggested that Belgian companies could expand their presence in India.

The approach is aligned with India's broader push for self-reliance in defence manufacturing and its objective of becoming a larger exporter of defence equipment.

Maritime Cooperation

Maritime security remains an important area of potential cooperation between India and Belgium. Discussions between the two countries have included the possibility of defence engagement in the Indo-Pacific, particularly in the maritime sector. (Press Information Bureau)

The importance of maritime capabilities has also increased as India seeks to strengthen its role as a security partner in the wider Indian Ocean and Indo-Pacific regions.

India’s Defence Export Push

Singh has repeatedly emphasised the need to increase India's defence exports and strengthen domestic manufacturing. The government has set a target of raising defence exports to ₹50,000 crore by 2029-30.

According to the Ministry of Defence, India's defence production reached approximately ₹1.78 lakh crore in 2025-26, while defence exports rose to a record ₹38,424 crore. The government has linked the growth in production and exports with its broader Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives. (Press Information Bureau)

Belgium Partnership Gains Importance

Belgium is an important European partner for India, with bilateral engagement extending beyond defence to trade, investment, technology and other sectors.

Recent India-EU discussions have also included defence-industrial cooperation, with India seeking greater collaboration with European partners in emerging areas such as counter-drone technologies and electronic warfare. (Press Information Bureau)

‘Very Productive’ Meeting

Singh's description of the latest meeting as “very productive” signals India's continuing interest in expanding defence ties with Belgium.

Further cooperation could provide opportunities for Indian and Belgian companies to work together in defence manufacturing, technology and supply chains, while strengthening the broader strategic relationship between the two countries.

India's naval capabilities received a significant boost on Friday as Defence Minister Rajnath Singh commissioned INS Mahendragiri, the sixth stealth frigate under the Indian Navy's Project 17A Nilgiri-class programme, at the Naval Dockyard in Visakhapatnam. Built with more than 75% indigenous equipment and technology, the warship marks another milestone in India's drive towards self-reliance in defence manufacturing under the 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' initiative.

The multi-role stealth frigate has been designed to counter threats across air, surface and underwater domains simultaneously. Equipped with advanced indigenous missile systems, electronic warfare capabilities, anti-submarine warfare technologies and an integrated combat management system, INS Mahendragiri is expected to strengthen India's operational readiness in the Indian Ocean Region and contribute to a secure and stable Indo-Pacific.

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Rajnath Singh described the induction of the warship as a major achievement for India's indigenous defence sector. He said the vessel reflects the country's growing capability to design and build complex frontline warships using domestic technology and industrial expertise.

Indigenous Defence Push

A key highlight of INS Mahendragiri is its high level of indigenisation. More than three-fourths of its equipment and systems have been developed within India, with significant contributions from micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) across the country.

The project has not only strengthened India's defence manufacturing ecosystem but has also generated employment opportunities while reducing dependence on imported military hardware.

Advanced Combat Features

INS Mahendragiri is equipped with a range of sophisticated weapon and sensor systems designed for modern naval warfare. Its arsenal includes surface-to-surface and surface-to-air missile systems, anti-submarine warfare capabilities, advanced electronic warfare suites and a fully integrated combat management system.

The warship also incorporates advanced stealth technology that reduces its radar, infrared and acoustic signatures, making it considerably more difficult for adversaries to detect and track during operations.

Powered by a Combined Diesel and Gas (CODOG) propulsion system, the frigate can undertake long-range missions while maintaining high operational speeds.

What Makes a Stealth Frigate Different?

Stealth frigates are specially designed warships that minimise detection by enemy radar, sonar and infrared surveillance systems. Their unique hull design, specialised materials and reduced acoustic signature enhance survivability during combat operations.

Besides stealth characteristics, these warships are capable of carrying out multiple missions, including air defence, anti-surface warfare and anti-submarine operations. They also operate advanced radars, torpedoes, naval guns and helicopters, enabling them to respond to diverse maritime threats.

Project 17A Progress

INS Mahendragiri is part of the Navy's ambitious Project 17A, under which seven advanced stealth-guided missile frigates are being constructed.

Four vessels are being built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) in Mumbai, while the remaining three are under construction at Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) in Kolkata.

Project 17A is the successor to the Shivalik-class programme and represents India's first major warship construction initiative to extensively use integrated block construction technology. Under this method, different sections of a ship are built separately before being assembled, reducing construction time and improving quality.

Kurnool to Become India's 'Drone City'

During the event, Rajnath Singh also announced that Kurnool in Andhra Pradesh is being developed as a dedicated Drone City, with a cluster of eight drone manufacturing companies already being established.

Drawing comparisons with Surat's diamond industry and Bengaluru's technology ecosystem, Singh said Kurnool has the potential to emerge as India's leading drone manufacturing and innovation hub, strengthening the country's defence and civilian drone capabilities.

Name Rooted in Heritage

INS Mahendragiri derives its name from the Mahendragiri mountain, a site with deep historical and religious significance in India. According to mythology, the mountain is associated with Lord Parashuram and also finds mention in the Ramayana. The Indian Navy has traditionally named several warships after India's mountains, rivers and heritage sites, reflecting the country's cultural legacy alongside its maritime traditions.

The commissioning of INS Mahendragiri further reinforces India's focus on indigenous naval modernisation and enhanced maritime security amid evolving strategic challenges in the Indo-Pacific region.

Three indigenously built warships were formally inducted into the Indian Navy at Kolkata's Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, marking a significant step in the country's push toward self-reliance in defence manufacturing. Prime Minister Narendra Modi presided over the commissioning ceremony and made clear that India's strategic ambition goes well beyond buying weapons from abroad.

"These ships have been built in India. Their design was developed in India. The skills and hard work of Indian engineers have gone into them," Modi said at the event. He added that India no longer wishes to remain only a buyer in the defence sector — the goal now is to become a manufacturer. "The day we become manufacturers, we will also become decisive," he said.

The three vessels — stealth frigate INS Dunagiri, survey ship INS Sandhayak, and anti-submarine warfare craft INS Agraay — were all designed by the Indian Navy's Warship Design Bureau and constructed by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) in Kolkata.

INS Dunagiri is the most combat-ready of the three. The fifth frigate under Project 17A, it carries BrahMos surface-to-surface supersonic missiles, one of the most formidable weapons in India's naval inventory. It also has helicopter operating capability and stealth features that reduce its radar cross-section, making it harder for enemy systems to detect. Captain Divya Alok, the ship's Commanding Officer (Designate), confirmed Dunagiri will join the Eastern Naval Command and the Eastern Fleet — a posting of considerable strategic weight given India's growing interests across the Bay of Bengal and the broader Indo-Pacific.

INS Sandhayak takes on a different but critical role. The fourth vessel in the Survey Vessel (Large) series, it is built for hydrographic and oceanographic work — mapping sea depths, collecting marine data, and producing nautical charts used by both the Navy and civilian shipping. It carries Autonomous Underwater Vehicles and Remotely Operated Vehicles, giving it deep-sea survey capability that older vessels in the series lacked.

INS Agraay is the fourth Arnala-class anti-submarine warfare shallow water craft. Equipped with lightweight torpedoes, indigenous rocket launchers, and advanced sonar systems, it is designed specifically to detect and engage enemy submarines operating close to India's coastline. Its silent running mode — the ability to operate at very low acoustic levels — makes it particularly difficult for adversarial sonar to pick up. Beyond combat, it can also be deployed in search and rescue operations and for monitoring maritime traffic along the coast.

All three ships represent a continuation of India's effort to reduce dependence on foreign defence imports. GRSE has been one of the primary engines of this push, delivering multiple vessels across different classes over the past several years.

India on Monday successfully flight-tested its indigenously developed Long-Range Land Attack Cruise Missile, adding another capability to the country's deep-strike arsenal, officials said. The missile was launched from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the Odisha coast, with the Ministry of Defence confirming that all mission objectives were met during the trial.

According to the Ministry, performance data for the test was captured by tracking instruments deployed by the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur, which monitored the missile through its flight path. Officials described the test as a significant milestone in India's indigenous missile development programme.

Launched From Odisha Coast

The Long-Range Land Attack Cruise Missile, referred to by its acronym LRLACM, is designed to strike land-based targets with precision at distances of up to 1,000 km, giving the armed forces the ability to hit enemy positions deep inside hostile territory without crossing the border themselves. The subsonic missile can be fired from the ground using a mobile articulated launcher, and also from frontline warships through a universal vertical launch module system, the same launch infrastructure currently used for the BrahMos missile.

Built With Indigenous Technology

Officials said the missile has been developed entirely using indigenous technology, with all major subsystems designed by various DRDO laboratories working alongside Indian industry partners. The Aeronautical Development Establishment in Bengaluru served as the nodal laboratory overseeing the project. The LRLACM is a Defence Acquisition Council-approved, mission mode project, reflecting the priority the government has placed on developing the weapon system domestically.

Navy, Air Force Witness Test

The launch was witnessed by senior DRDO scientists along with representatives from the Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force, both of which are expected to eventually field the system. Defence experts present at the trial said the missile is likely to significantly strengthen India's long-range strike capability once it is fully operational.

Rajnath Singh Congratulates DRDO

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated the DRDO team and its industry partners following the successful trial, officials said. Defence Secretary and DRDO Chairman Rajesh Kumar Singh also monitored the launch activities and extended his congratulations to the teams involved in the project. The Ministry, in a statement, termed the test another step towards strengthening the country's self-reliant defence ecosystem.

Multiple Launch Platforms Planned

Beyond ground and naval launch options, an air-launched variant of the LRLACM is currently under development, with integration work under way for the Su-30MKI fighter aircraft, which is expected to serve as the platform for the initial round of trials of that variant. The plan to field the missile across multiple platforms is aimed at giving the three services flexibility in how the weapon is deployed depending on operational requirements.

What Is A Cruise Missile

A cruise missile, unlike a ballistic missile, is powered by a jet engine and flies at low altitude for most of its trajectory, allowing it to alter course mid-flight and evade radar detection while closing in on a designated target with high accuracy. The LRLACM falls in this category, distinguishing it from India's other long-range systems such as the hypersonic missile tested off the same coast in 2024.

Understanding Deep-Strike Capability

In military terms, deep-strike capability refers to the ability to accurately hit targets located far inside enemy territory, such as airbases, missile launch sites, radar installations, military headquarters and command-and-control centres, without having to physically breach the border. A missile fired from within Indian territory that destroys an airbase located, say, 800 km inside hostile territory would qualify as a deep-strike capability, a benchmark the LRLACM's 1,000 km range comfortably exceeds.

With the latest trial successfully completed, the missile is expected to move closer to induction trials across the three services, even as work continues on the air-launched variant designed for integration with the Su-30MKI fleet.