At the 6th India-France Annual Defence Dialogue in Bengaluru, this Feburary, India expressed its interest in joining France’s futuristic sixth-generation fighter jet programme. According to official sources, Mr. Singh presented India’s intent to participate in the co-development and co-manufacture of a sixth-generation combat aircraft under the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) programme. The FCAS programme aims to develop a next-generation air combat system centred around a sixth-generation fighter, supported by unmanned systems and advanced network-centric warfare capabilities. Meanwhile, India’s defence exports have reached a record high of ₹23,620 crore. The government aims to achieve defence manufacturing worth ₹3 lakh crore and ₹50,000 crore in defence exports by 2029.

Source: The Hindu March 03, 2026 12:44 UTC