India and South Korea have expanded defence cooperation through the KIND-X innovation roadmap, AI and cyber collaboration, joint development initiatives, and startup-driven defence technology partnerships aimed at accelerating co-production and strategic deep-tech capabilities.
India and South Korea have strengthened defence cooperation with a major push towards open innovation ecosystems, AI-led collaboration, and joint deep-tech development during bilateral talks held in Seoul between Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and South Korean defence leadership.
A key outcome was discussions around the India-Korea Defence Innovation Accelerator Ecosystem (KIND-X), designed to synergise the innovation ecosystems of both countries and accelerate co-development between startups, industry, academia, and governments. Both sides agreed to expand collaboration through joint development, joint production, and joint exports of advanced defence technologies.
The partnership will focus on artificial intelligence, cyber technologies, semiconductors, autonomous systems, defence software systems, sensors, quantum technologies, advanced electronics, and space-based capabilities, reflecting a broader shift from conventional military hardware towards integrated deep-tech defence ecosystems.
Several MoUs were signed covering defence cyber cooperation, institutional training partnerships between India’s National Defence College and Korea National Defence University, and UN peacekeeping cooperation.
Rajnath Singh also chaired the India-RoK Defence Industry Business RoundTable, where government officials and defence companies explored manufacturing partnerships, co-production opportunities, and supply-chain collaboration. Two agreements between Larsen & Toubro and Hanwha were also signed to strengthen technology cooperation and capacity building.
“The future of India-Korea defence cooperation lies in innovation-led collaboration,” Singh said, highlighting India’s growing startup ecosystem in AI-enabled platforms, cyber security, unmanned systems, advanced communications, and defence software systems.
