India–France Partnership Has No Limits, Says Rajnath Singh at H125 Assembly Line Launch

Kolar, Feb 2026 : Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday said that India’s collaboration with France is limitless, underlining the deep trust and expanding scope of the strategic partnership between the two nations. He stressed that the relationship goes far beyond conventional cooperation and is evolving into a mutually beneficial alliance across defence, manufacturing, technology, and innovation.

“India and France are trusted strategic partners,” Rajnath Singh said, adding that the partnership is driven by shared democratic values, common strategic interests, and a joint vision for global stability and growth. He noted that recent developments have further strengthened bilateral ties and opened new avenues for cooperation in high-end manufacturing and advanced technologies.

Highlighting a key milestone, the Defence Minister referred to the digital unveiling of the final assembly line of H125 helicopter in India by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron. Congratulating Tata Advanced Systems and Airbus Helicopters, Singh said the initiative reflects the shared commitment of India and France to deepen cooperation in high-end manufacturing and aerospace capabilities.

He emphasised that flagship national initiatives such as Make in India and Aatmanirbhar Bharat have been at the core of India’s economic and industrial policy since 2014. Under these programmes, India aims to achieve self-reliance in critical technologies and advanced manufacturing, not in isolation but through strong and mutually beneficial global partnerships.

“For over a decade, India has pursued rapid industrial development through large-scale infrastructure projects, targeted capital investment in priority sectors, and schemes like the Production Linked Incentive programme,” Singh said. He added that the government has also created a liberalised and investor-friendly policy environment to attract domestic and foreign investment, enabling India to emerge as a global manufacturing hub.

The Defence Minister said special emphasis has been placed on empowering micro, small and medium enterprises while strengthening the country’s start-up ecosystem. According to him, India’s vision of industrial growth is not limited to meeting domestic demand alone but also focuses on producing world-class products for international markets.

Speaking on defence sector reforms, Singh pointed out that India’s defence manufacturing ecosystem was traditionally dominated by the public sector due to high capital requirements and long development cycles. However, significant policy reforms—such as the corporatisation of ordnance factories, targeted incentive schemes, and the creation of defence industrial corridors—have transformed the landscape. As a result, the private sector today contributes nearly one quarter of India’s total defence production.

He also highlighted the sharp rise in India’s defence exports in recent years, which has positioned the country among the leading defence exporters globally. This growth has given a major boost to MSMEs and ancillary industries, which now number over 16,000. Singh noted that global companies sourcing components from Indian MSMEs are encouraged to deepen their engagement through meaningful technology transfer and collaboration, enabling India to provide advanced security solutions to friendly nations.

Referring to the H125 helicopter programme, Singh said the investment is expected to exceed ₹1,000 crore and will generate substantial direct and indirect employment opportunities for skilled young professionals. He described the H125 as a globally trusted single-engine helicopter, known for its reliability, versatility, and strong performance across diverse terrains and climatic conditions.

Concluding his address, Rajnath Singh expressed his sincere gratitude to Airbus France and conveyed special thanks to the French Defence Minister for their continued support and commitment to strengthening the India–France strategic partnership.