India and Italy have elevated their bilateral relationship to a Special Strategic Partnership, marking a significant milestone in defence and industrial cooperation between the two nations. The announcement, made in Rome by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni, signals a new phase of collaboration after years of limited engagement following the AgustaWestland controversy that had constrained Italian defence firms in India.
Defence Industrial Roadmap
The centrepiece of this partnership is a Defence Industrial Roadmap that emphasizes co-development and co-production of military systems, aligning closely with India's Make in India initiative. The roadmap opens avenues for cooperation in helicopters, naval platforms, marine weapon systems, and electronic warfare technologies. Both leaders expressed satisfaction with the strengthening of defence ties through ministerial exchanges, service-to-service cooperation, and port visits. They welcomed the adoption of a Joint Declaration of Intent and emphasized the importance of protecting critical infrastructure and supply chains by enhancing industrial resilience.
Helicopter Manufacturing Ecosystem
Earlier this year, a memorandum of understanding was signed between Adani Defence and Aerospace and Leonardo, Italy's leading defence and aerospace company. This partnership will establish a fully integrated helicopter manufacturing ecosystem in India, targeting the armed forces' requirements for advanced AW169M and AW109 TrekkerM helicopters, while also building robust maintenance, overhaul, and pilot training capabilities.
Black Shark Torpedo Deal
On December 30, 2025, India signed a Rs 1,896 crore contract with Italy's Whitehead Alenia Sistemi Subacquei for 48 Black Shark heavyweight torpedoes, ending a prolonged capability gap in the Navy's Kalvari-class submarines. This deal, once scrapped amid corruption allegations, has now been revived, restoring critical underwater strike capabilities. The delivery of these torpedoes will begin in 2028.
Expanding Military Cooperation
Both sides also agreed to explore an annual high-level military dialogue, complementing the work of the Joint Defence Committee and Military Cooperation Group, while promoting joint exercises and inter-force courses. Maritime security cooperation will be deepened through a new dialogue mechanism aimed at enhancing coordination and information exchange.
Beyond Defence: Counterterrorism and Space
Beyond defence, the partnership encompasses counterterrorism and space collaboration. The prime ministers reiterated their commitment to eliminating terrorist safe havens and financing networks. They also agreed to strengthen cooperation between the Italian Space Agency and ISRO in Earth observation, heliophysics, and space exploration, with a focus on protecting space infrastructure. This comprehensive partnership reflects a forward-looking approach, combining defence industrial collaboration with broader strategic and technological engagement.
