Tokyo/New Delhi, October 21:
India and Japan’s growing defence collaboration—spanning stealth systems, naval platforms, unmanned vehicles, cyber defence, and potential joint development of fighter jets and submarines—has become a cornerstone of India’s defence modernisation and strategic autonomy, according to a report published on Tuesday.
The India Narrative report highlighted that this partnership not only provides India access to advanced technologies but also enhances indigenous production, operational synergy, and regional stability amid an increasingly complex Indo-Pacific security landscape.
“India-Japan defence cooperation has evolved into a pivotal pillar of regional security, driven by shared strategic interests, complementary strengths, and a deepening focus on defence technology collaboration,” the report noted. For India, engagement with Japan is seen as critical to upgrading its armed forces, boosting domestic defence manufacturing, and achieving greater self-reliance.
The report observed that China’s assertive posture—manifested in territorial disputes, naval expansion, and hybrid threats—has accelerated defence cooperation between New Delhi and Tokyo. The August 2025 Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation underscored this commitment by emphasizing interoperability, joint exercises, and collaboration in chemical, biological, radiological defence, cyber warfare, and maritime security.
Both countries, as democratic powers committed to a free and open Indo-Pacific, are enhancing cooperation in defence equipment development and operational integration. India values Japan’s advanced technology and evolving defence export policies, while Japan gains a trusted maritime partner and access to India’s expanding defence market.
According to the report, this partnership also strengthens regional security by improving joint response capabilities against terrorism, piracy, and hybrid threats through logistics support and intelligence sharing. With Japan’s liberalised export policy and India’s growing defence industrial base, future cooperation could see joint development of next-generation combat systems, marking a new phase in their strategic partnership.
