India Looks to Southeast Asia for Deeper Defence Partnerships, Offers Drones, Radars and Helicopters

Defence Minister Sh. Rajnath Singh calls for joint development, local manufacturing and maritime security cooperation, positioning India as a long-term defence partner for ASEAN nations.

India is seeking to expand its defence engagement with Southeast Asia, offering cooperation in drones, radar systems, air-defence equipment, helicopters and patrol vessels as it looks to build stronger security partnerships across the Indo-Pacific.

Defence Minister Sh. Rajnath Singh outlined the approach while addressing the inaugural ASEAN–India Defence Think Tank Forum at the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (MP-IDSA) in New Delhi on 14 October. His message went beyond selling military equipment: India wants to work with regional partners on developing, manufacturing, maintaining and upgrading defence systems according to their individual requirements.

The initiative comes at a time when Southeast Asian countries are paying increasing attention to maritime security, surveillance, air defence and the protection of critical infrastructure. For India, deeper defence cooperation offers an opportunity to strengthen regional relationships while creating new avenues for its growing domestic defence industry.

Beyond arms sales: Building long-term partnerships

A key feature of India’s proposal is the emphasis on cooperation throughout the life cycle of military equipment. Rather than limiting engagement to the delivery of finished products, New Delhi is encouraging arrangements involving co-development, co-production, maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), training and long-term technical support.

Such partnerships could help participating countries develop local technical expertise, reduce maintenance delays and build more dependable supply chains. They could also create opportunities for Indian defence manufacturers to establish lasting industrial relationships with Southeast Asian partners.

He stressed that India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative should not be interpreted as a policy of technological isolation. Instead, he presented self-reliance as a foundation for working with trusted partners to design, build, maintain and improve military equipment together. 

For prospective customers, this approach could be attractive because the purchase price is only one part of a defence programme. Training, spare parts, upgrades, technical assistance and the availability of maintenance facilities often determine how effectively a system performs over its operational life.

For Indian companies, the opportunity is equally significant. Long-term cooperation could provide a route into regional markets while supporting domestic manufacturing, research and specialised engineering capabilities.

Maritime security at the centre of cooperation

Maritime security is emerging as one of the most important areas for India–ASEAN defence engagement. The Indian Ocean and the waters of Southeast Asia form an interconnected maritime space through which vital commercial shipping, energy supplies and essential goods move.

For countries across the region, maintaining awareness of activity at sea is essential to protecting trade routes, monitoring suspicious movements and responding to maritime emergencies.

Sh. Rajnath Singh called for stronger maritime-domain awareness, improved information-sharing, closer coordination between navies and coast guards, and greater cooperation in underwater awareness. These measures could help regional partners build a more comprehensive picture of maritime activity and improve their ability to respond to common threats. 

Drones and radar systems could contribute to these efforts by supporting surveillance over coastal areas, ports and maritime approaches. Depending on their configuration, unmanned aerial systems can help monitor large areas, while radar networks can assist in detecting and tracking aircraft and surface movements.

Underwater cooperation is another important dimension. Better information-sharing, technical collaboration and coordinated anti-submarine warfare training could help participating countries improve their understanding of underwater threats. The precise scope of any future programmes will depend on the requirements and decisions of the countries involved.

The minister also highlighted challenges such as piracy, illegal fishing, trafficking, cybercrime and natural disasters. These concerns demonstrate that maritime security extends beyond conventional military confrontation to include law enforcement, infrastructure protection and humanitarian response.

Drones, radars and air defence: Opportunities for India’s defence industry

The equipment categories identified by Sh. Rajnath Singh offer several potential avenues for Indian defence manufacturers.

Unmanned aerial systems: Drones can support surveillance, reconnaissance, border monitoring and maritime patrol, depending on their design. India’s expanding UAV ecosystem, including private-sector manufacturers and start-ups, could provide opportunities for cooperation in platforms, sensors, software and maintenance. Any export would need to meet the purchasing country’s operational requirements and applicable export-control conditions.

Radar and air-defence systems: Radar technology is central to detecting and tracking potential threats. Cooperation in these areas could involve equipment supply, integration, training and technical support. Air-defence requirements differ considerably between countries, making system compatibility, affordability and sustainment important considerations.

Helicopters and patrol vessels: These platforms can support a range of missions, including maritime surveillance, transport, search and rescue, disaster relief and security patrols. Their value depends on the mission profile, operating environment and availability of suitable maintenance and training arrangements.

India’s defence industry has been working to expand its international presence, supported by domestic research, public-sector manufacturers and a growing private-sector ecosystem. A sustained ASEAN engagement could offer opportunities for companies capable of delivering reliable equipment alongside training, servicing and long-term technical assistance.

However, the minister’s remarks should not be interpreted as confirmation of new export orders. They establish areas in which India is willing to explore cooperation; individual procurement decisions, commercial negotiations and contracts would require separate announcements.

Technology cooperation and the role of start-ups

The proposed engagement also extends beyond conventional military platforms. Sh. Rajnath Singh identified artificial intelligence, drones, cyber capabilities and space-based systems as increasingly important elements of defence and security.

Recent conflicts have demonstrated how comparatively inexpensive unmanned systems can challenge sophisticated and costly military equipment. This has increased interest in counter-drone technology, electronic protection, surveillance systems and adaptable solutions that can be deployed without imposing unsustainable costs.

India’s Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) initiative and Technology Development Fund (TDF) could provide avenues for encouraging collaboration involving start-ups, universities, research institutions and defence companies. Potential areas include maritime surveillance, counter-drone systems, cyber defence and disaster response. 

Such cooperation could create opportunities for smaller technology firms that may not have the scale to undertake major defence exports independently but possess expertise in sensors, autonomy, artificial intelligence, communications or specialised software.

Joint research and testing could also allow partners to evaluate technologies against shared operational challenges. Any such programme would need clearly defined requirements, suitable safeguards for sensitive information and mutually agreed arrangements for intellectual property.

India’s wider Indo-Pacific approach

The defence initiative fits within India’s Act East Policy and its broader approach to an open and inclusive Indo-Pacific. New Delhi has consistently emphasised cooperation, respect for national sovereignty and the peaceful resolution of disputes.

Sh. Rajnath Singh argued for a regional environment in which countries can protect their interests and pursue development without being compelled to choose sides. The approach reflects India’s interest in building relationships through practical cooperation rather than relying exclusively on diplomatic declarations. 

The timing is also notable. The year 2026 has been designated the ASEAN–India Year of Maritime Cooperation, providing an opportunity to translate existing political and diplomatic engagement into practical initiatives in maritime security, technology and defence industry collaboration.

The inaugural think tank forum was intended to strengthen strategic dialogue between India and ASEAN. Its proposed follow-through includes joint research, exchanges among researchers, pilot projects and recommendations that governments and relevant institutions could pursue.

From proposals to practical outcomes

India’s pitch to ASEAN represents a broader effort to establish itself as a dependable defence and technology partner for Southeast Asia. Its success, however, will depend on what follows the initial discussions.

Each ASEAN member has its own defence priorities, budgets, procurement procedures and strategic considerations. Equipment that suits one country’s requirements may not be appropriate for another. Competitive pricing, proven performance, timely delivery, technology protection and dependable after-sales support will therefore be central to converting interest into business.

Co-production and joint development may offer additional benefits, but they also require agreement on technology transfer, industrial responsibilities, intellectual property and long-term support.

For India, the objective is not simply to increase the number of platforms exported. It is to build relationships that strengthen regional security while creating sustainable opportunities for domestic industry.

The real test of this initiative will be whether India’s offer develops into practical projects, lasting industrial partnerships and improved regional capabilities. Drones, radars, helicopters and patrol vessels may provide the starting point, but the longer-term opportunity lies in shared expertise, dependable support and the ability to address common security challenges together.