Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], February 12: Amid the ongoing Aero India 2025 in Bengaluru, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh engaged in high-level discussions with key aerospace industry delegations from top companies, including GE Aerospace, Safran, Leonardo S.p.A., Dassault Aviation, and BAE Systems. These discussions were centered around advancing strategic partnerships, technology transfer, and exploring future opportunities in the aerospace and defence sectors.
The Ministry of Defence shared updates about Singh’s engagements on social media, highlighting his participation in India’s premier aerospace and defence exhibition. In a post on X, the Ministry stated, “Defence Secretary Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh met delegations from GE Aerospace and Safran in Bengaluru. The meetings focused on advancing aerospace collaboration, strengthening strategic partnerships, and enhancing defence technology cooperation.”
Another post read, “Defence Secretary Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh held a meeting with delegations from Leonardo S.p.A. and Dassault Aviation in Bengaluru. Discussions focused on strengthening defence collaborations, enhancing technology transfer, and exploring new opportunities in the aerospace and security sectors.”
Singh also met with a delegation from BAE Systems, a leading British aerospace company, where the focus was on advancing innovation, building strategic partnerships, and discussing future opportunities in the aerospace and defence sectors.
Bilateral Meetings: On the sidelines of Aero India 2025, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh also conducted bilateral meetings with defence officials from Nepal, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and the Maldives to discuss strengthening bilateral defence ties.
- Singh met Nepal Defence Secretary Rameshwar Dangal to review a range of bilateral defence aspects.
- Sanjeev Kumar, Secretary of Defence Production, met with Dr. Mohammed AlKahtani, CTO of SAMI (Saudi Arabian Military Industries), to discuss defence industry cooperation between the two nations.
- Raksha Rajya Mantri Sanjay Seth held discussions with Maj Gen (Retd) Bantubonke Harrington Holomisa, Deputy Defence Minister of South Africa, on defence collaboration.
- Sanjay Seth also met Muaz Haleem, Minister of State for Defence, Maldives, to discuss defence-related matters.
On February 12, Defence Secretary Singh held additional talks with Mozambican Defence Secretary Casimiro Augusto Mueio, Sri Lanka’s Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha, Suriname’s Jayantkumar Bidesie, Mongolia’s Brigadier General Gankhayug Degvadorj, Mauritius’s Devendre Gopaul, and Democratic Republic of Congo’s Major General Lukwikila Metikwiza Marcel to review ongoing defence cooperation and explore ways to enhance industrial ties.
The discussions with France’s Lt Gen Gael Diaz de Tuesta, Director of the International Directorate of the Directorate General of Armament, also centered around joint projects and defence industrial cooperation.
Aero India 2025 continues from February 10-14, with the first three days reserved for business discussions, and February 13-14 open to the public, offering an opportunity for spectators to witness the exhibition.