Delhi, Seoul to work on air defence and energy weapons systems

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung's state visit to New Delhi (April 19–21, 2026) resulted in agreements to expand the India–South Korea Special Strategic ...

What Happened

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung's state visit to New Delhi (April 19–21, 2026) resulted in agreements to expand the India–South Korea Special Strategic Partnership into air defence and directed energy (energy weapons) systems.
The two sides agreed to extend the successful joint production model used for K9 Vajra howitzers to co-develop air defence systems, including anti-aircraft guns and missile platforms targeting new aerial threats such as drones.
The KIND-X (Korea-India Defence Accelerator) initiative was announced, modelled on the India–US INDUS-X platform, to bring together defence companies, research institutions, and startups from both countries.
A new five-year defence-industrial roadmap was adopted, envisioning co-design, co-development, and technology transfer for next-generation systems.
Localisation of South Korean air defence systems by 2028 is expected to reduce Russia's share of India's arms imports to below 25%.

Static Topic Bridges

India–South Korea Special Strategic Partnership

The Special Strategic Partnership between India and South Korea was established in 2015, elevating bilateral ties beyond trade into defence, technology, and strategic collaboration. It builds on earlier frameworks including a 2020 Roadmap for Defence Industries Cooperation covering land, naval, aero, and guided weapon systems. South Korea is a significant defence industrial partner for India, given its advanced manufacturing capabilities and alignment on Indo-Pacific security concerns. The relationship reflects India's diversification strategy away from dependence on any single supplier, particularly Russia.

Partnership established: 2015 (elevated from Strategic Partnership of 2010).
2020 Roadmap: Covered land, naval, aero, and guided weapon systems.
Key platform: K9 Vajra-T howitzer — joint production by Hanwha (South Korea) and Larsen & Toubro (India), with a contractual requirement of 50% Indian content.
K9 Vajra-T has been deployed along India's Line of Actual Control (LAC) in high-altitude conditions.
Third batch of K9 Vajra-T was ordered following successful performance during border tensions with China.

Connection to this news: The KIND-X accelerator and air defence co-development agreements represent a deepening of this partnership from procurement to co-design, the highest rung of defence industrial cooperation.

Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) and Make in India in Defence

India's defence procurement is governed by the Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP 2020), administered by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) — the apex body for capital acquisition decisions under the Ministry of Defence, formed in 2001 post-Kargil War recommendations. The DAP 2020 prioritises indigenisation through a category hierarchy: Buy (Indian-IDDM — Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured) holds the highest preference, followed by Buy (Indian), Buy and Make (Indian), Buy (Global–Manufacture in India), and Buy (Global). The overarching policy framework is Aatmanirbhar Bharat in defence, aiming to reduce import dependence and develop a domestic defence industrial base.

DAC: Chaired by the Defence Minister; approves capital acquisition proposals.
Buy (Indian-IDDM): Highest preference category — product must be indigenously designed, developed, and manufactured.
Draft DAP 2026 proposes to reduce procurement categories to four by removing the standalone "Buy (Indian)" route, raising the indigenisation bar further.
India targets ₹3 lakh crore in defence production by 2029, with ₹50,000 crore in exports.
Defence Industrial Corridors: Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu corridors operationalised to anchor domestic manufacturing.

Connection to this news: Co-development and technology transfer with South Korea for air defence systems aligns with the "Buy and Make (Indian)" and "Buy (Indian-IDDM)" aspirations — moving India from being a buyer to a co-manufacturer and eventually a designer of defence platforms.

Directed Energy Weapons (DEWs)

Directed Energy Weapons (DEWs) are systems that use highly focused energy — lasers, high-power microwaves, or particle beams — to destroy, damage, or incapacitate targets. Unlike kinetic weapons, DEWs operate at the speed of light, have near-unlimited magazines (limited only by power supply), and offer precision strike capability with low per-shot cost. They are particularly relevant against drone swarms, missiles, and low-cost aerial threats that overwhelm traditional interceptor-based air defence systems.

Types: (1) Laser-based DEWs — focused beam at speed of light; (2) High-Power Microwave (HPM) weapons — disrupt/destroy electronics over wide area; (3) Particle beam weapons — accelerate charged particles (less mature).
India's DRDO: Successfully trialled the Mk-II(A) Laser Directed Energy Weapon (April 2025). The "Surya" system (300 kW) under development targets supersonic missiles, UAVs, and aircraft up to 20 km range.
DRDO's Centre for High Energy Systems and Sciences (CHESS), Hyderabad, is the nodal laboratory for DEW research.
Global context: Israel's Iron Beam (laser-based), US Navy's LaWS, and Russia's Peresvet are deployed or near-deployed systems.
India's national DEW plan covers short, medium, and long-term goals up to 100 kW class systems.

Connection to this news: Collaboration with South Korea on "energy weapons systems" brings advanced DEW co-development into India's bilateral defence architecture, supplementing DRDO's domestic programmes with allied technology partnerships — a model similar to how INDUS-X channels India-US defence innovation.

INDUS-X: The Template for KIND-X

INDUS-X (India-US Defence Acceleration Ecosystem) was launched in June 2023 during PM Modi's state visit to the United States. It connects defence startups, industry, and research institutions from both countries to co-develop and co-produce next-generation defence technologies under the initiative for Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET). KIND-X (Korea-India Defence Accelerator) is explicitly modelled on INDUS-X, signalling India's intent to build a network of bilateral defence innovation ecosystems with strategic partners.

INDUS-X launched: June 2023, under iCET framework.
Objective: Facilitate joint defence innovation, co-production, and technology transfer between Indian and US defence sectors.
KIND-X announced: April 2026 India–South Korea Summit.
Both frameworks bring together government, industry, startups, and academia.

Connection to this news: KIND-X replicates INDUS-X's structure for the South Korea relationship, institutionalising the shift from buyer-seller to innovation partner in air defence and DEW technologies.

Key Facts & Data

India–South Korea Special Strategic Partnership established: 2015.
K9 Vajra-T: Manufactured by Hanwha (South Korea) + L&T (India); 50% indigenisation requirement; deployed on LAC.
KIND-X: Announced April 2026; modelled on INDUS-X (launched June 2023).
DRDO Mk-II(A) Laser DEW: Successfully trialled April 13, 2025.
"Surya" 300 kW laser system: Under development; range up to 20 km; can target missiles, UAVs, aircraft.
Russia's share of India's arms imports: Expected to fall below 25% by 2028 following South Korean localisation agreements.
DAC: Formed 2001, chaired by Defence Minister, highest defence procurement body.
DAP 2020: Five procurement categories; highest preference to Buy (Indian-IDDM).