Czech Firms Sign Three Defense Technology Agreements in India

India's A-One Group has signed three memorandums of understanding with Czech partners covering unmanned aerial vehicles, electronic components and UAV management systems, expanding potential industrial cooperation between the two countries.

The agreements were concluded in Bengaluru on October 14, during a Czech business delegation visit led by First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry and Trade Karel Havlíček. A-One Group said the cooperation will focus on joint research and development, technology trials and potential manufacturing of defence and aerospace systems.

A-One Group directors Sunil Jallan, Sandeep Kumar and Devaaryan Jallan participated in the signing. The Indian company has not publicly identified its Czech counterparties or disclosed the financial value, production volumes or implementation schedules associated with the agreements.

A-One Targets Defence Manufacturing Expansion

A-One Group, an established Indian steel manufacturer, entered the defence and aerospace sector through A-One Defence and Aerospace Private Limited, established in 2025.

According to the company, its defense subsidiary holds regulatory licences covering artillery shells and drones and is pursuing research and development activities involving unmanned systems, electronic components and robotics.

The company has also outlined plans to establish annual production capacity for up to 400,000 artillery shells of 155 mm calibre. Initial production trials are scheduled for April 2027, subject to technical, regulatory and operational requirements.

The planned ammunition production is part of A-One's broader manufacturing roadmap. The company has not established a public connection between that project and the newly signed Czech agreements.

Czech Defence Industry Expands Cooperation With India

The agreements followed bilateral talks in New Delhi on October 13 between Havlíček and Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

According to India's Ministry of Defence, both countries agreed to expand defense industrial cooperation, including through the India-Czech Joint Defence Committee and India's domestic manufacturing initiatives.

The Czech government's four-day business mission also produced additional industrial agreements involving aviation, unmanned technologies and advanced manufacturing.

Czech industrial group WITKOWITZ signed eight cooperation agreements covering several sectors, including unmanned technologies. Its partners included Indian aerospace company Gopalan Aerospace.

Separately, Czech defence and aerospace group OMNIPOL discussed its planned Aircraft Industries L 555 aircraft with Indian officials. The proposed aircraft is being developed for civil and potential military applications, including intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, maritime patrol and cargo transport.

OMNIPOL said the Indian side expressed interest in further discussions on potential joint development and manufacturing.

For A-One Group, the three memorandums establish a framework for exploring Czech technology partnerships. Whether they result in jointly developed products, manufacturing contracts or operational defense systems has yet to be determined.