India, Spain to focus on defence cooperation

The Joint Working Group (JWG) of India and Spain met for its fifth meeting here today. Both sides reviewed ongoing bilateral defence cooperation and discussed plans for multiple joint activities, including in the maritime domain.

The Ministry of Defence said, “They agreed to focus on closer collaboration in defence, particularly in technology and armament production.”

The C-295 aircraft is already being produced in India under a joint venture between Airbus Spain and Tata Advanced Systems Limited. Airbus and Tata have set up an assembly line in Vadodara, Gujarat. This first “Make-in-India” project in the defence aircraft sector has encouraged more Indian and Spanish companies to collaborate and explore opportunities in the aerospace domain.

Today’s meeting was co-chaired by Joint Secretary (International Cooperation) Amitabh Prasad and Special Adviser on Defence Diplomacy to the Secretary General of Defence Policy, Spain, Brig General Paulino Garcia Diego.