Speakers
Dr. Adrian Haack, Director – India Office, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) e.V.
Mr. Lucas Hirsch – Analyst, Federation of German Security and Defence Industries e.V.
Mr. Andleeb Shadman - Managing Director, Hensoldt Pvt. Ltd.
Dr. Christian Wagner - Senior Fellow, Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik
Maj Gen A. K. Channan (Retd.) - Principal Advisor, Bharat Forge
Key Takeaways
- India and Germany have shared long standing ties since the 1950s, which have further intensified in recent times based on cooperation across wide ranging areas as well as frequent exchanges and visits at the highest levels.
- The Indian and German Defence Industries have been working together for decades covering air, ground, and naval defence.
- This is an opportune time for India and Germany to collaborate and strengthen the partnership in the defence sector. The visit of the German Defence Minister Mr. Boris Pistorius to New Delhi during June 2023 is expected to further deepen bilateral defence cooperation.
- Germany has an effective armament industry based on high technology. Strengthening the semiconductor supply chain, sustainability and climate neutrality are some important focus areas for the German government which extends to the defence sector as well. The focus of the German Security and Defence Industry is to enhance the competitiveness and sustainability of the industry.
- India has a vibrant and rapidly growing defence sector that is undergoing a positive transformation with India’s Make in India Defence Policy opening up several new vistas and opportunities for collaboration in technology, manufacturing and joint ventures. With a rapidly growing MSME segment and a vibrant start-up ecosystem, India is well positioned to deliver cutting-edge defence products.
- India is well known as a global market for software skills. There is a lot of scope to tap into this sector’s talent in the defence sector as well.
- Several challenges and gaps exist across both sides. India needs to diversify its supply chains across the global foreign OEM ecosystem for enhancing its competitiveness. Germany has low visibility in India’s strategic debates and there are issues like BAFA which are preventing closer India-Germany defence cooperation. These gaps can be bridged through stronger defence cooperation.
- There is a strong need for an industry wide forum for facilitating regular dialogue between the defence industries of both countries. A strong platform such as an Indo-German Defence Companies Forum can be set up which can facilitate dialogue, sharing of ideas and regular exchanges between the two sides.
- With a lot of readjustments taking place in the international armaments sector given the changing geostrategic global landscape, both sides can explore ways to strengthen cooperation in the sector.
- While many opportunities and convergences exist between India and Germany in the defence sector, it is important to identify and bridge the existing gaps. The Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM) and similar organizations must step in to provide the requisite support in bolstering Indo-German ties in the sector.
