India and Australia Defence: India and Australia have been drawing much closer in defence and security. The two countries now see each other as important partners in keeping the Indo-Pacific calm, open and safe. Their ties were lifted to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2020, and the same year they also signed the Mutual Logistics Support Arrangement. That deal helps both sides use military facilities more easily, work better together in logistics, and carry out joint work across sea, air and land.
Both sides keep saying they want a “free, open and rules-based Indo-Pacific”. Maritime security sits right at the heart of that idea. In their latest joint defence talks, India and Australia also pointed to stronger defence information-sharing and better support for operations. They said they are building on the 2020 logistics arrangement and are looking at ways to make their forces work together more smoothly.
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P-8 link
Landed in Melbourne, Australia. This visit will add vigour to the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. I look forward to the talks with Prime Minister Albanese. I will also have the opportunity to interact with the Indian diaspora which is an important pillar of… pic.twitter.com/Qu8BeAAeGm
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 8, 2026
A big part of this partnership is happening at sea. India and Australia are working on a Joint Maritime Security Collaboration Roadmap. The goal is to improve maritime domain awareness through more coordinated patrols, better undersea watching and faster information sharing. In the Indian Ocean region, both countries also serve as co-leads of the IORA Working Group on Maritime Safety and Security. Their latest plans include a search and rescue exercise at the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Chennai.
The two nations also use the American-made P-8 maritime patrol aircraft. That gives both sides stronger anti-submarine warfare power and better surveillance over the Indian Ocean. Australia has already sent its P-8A Poseidon to India for maritime surveillance work, and recent official comments from Australia also described the P-8 as a key maritime surveillance platform used by both air and naval forces.
Exercises and Industry
Military drills are another big bridge between the two countries. India is set to take part in Australia’s Exercise Kakadu in 2026 and Exercise Talisman Sabre in 2027. Australia joined India’s Exercise Milan in February 2026.
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A bilateral air-to-air refuelling arrangement is also expected to be used during Exercise Pitch Black, which is Australia’s major multinational air combat drill. Pitch Black 2026 is expected to bring together more than 100 aircraft and thousands of personnel from 20 countries, with the Indian Air Force joining complex combat missions and night flying over Australia’s Northern Territory.
Army cooperation is moving too. India and Australia have been linked through exercises like AustraHind, Operation Render Safe and submarine rescue drills such as Black Carillon. Their naval and air links also run through AusIndEx, Pitch Black, Milan and Malabar. Australia’s first defence trade mission to India and the Defence Industry Roundtable in 2025 added a new business edge to the relationship. Both sides now expect more work on sensor technology, defence research and India’s participation in the 2026 Australian Defence Science Summit.
