Whalesbook
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Italy aims to revitalize a defense cooperation that has significantly weakened over the past decade. Italy's naval platforms and advanced military systems align with India's strategic needs and export goals, despite a sharp decline in Italy's market share for Indian defense imports.
Italian Defence Imports Decline
According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, Italy's contribution to India's defense imports has fallen sharply. Its share dropped from 1.7% between 2008 and 2013 to just 0.4% in the 2020-2025 period, largely due to a collapse in warship imports from Italy.
Naval Systems Lag
Italy was once a significant supplier of naval platforms, holding 8.3% of India's ship imports from 2008-2013. However, this share has since fallen to near zero. This decline is notable, as warships are a major part of India's defense spending and Italy's largest defense export category. Naval platforms made up 23% of Italy's global defense exports in 2008-2013, increasing to 46% in 2020-2025.
Opportunities for Collaboration
Italy remains a supplier of specialized naval systems, providing 16.5% of India's naval weapons imports in 2020-2025, and also holds a share in India's sensor imports. This presents opportunities for renewed collaboration in areas like warships, missile integration, naval electronics, artillery, and air defense systems, which would support India's "Make in India" initiative and strengthen ties with European nations.