New Delhi: A three-member Japanese Parliamentary Delegation led by Mr. Taro Kono, former Foreign Minister and former Defence Minister of Japan, visited the Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) Bengaluru Complex on September 19, 2026.
The visit was coordinated by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Government of India, as part of the Distinguished Visitors Programme (DVP). During the visit, the delegation discussed potential areas of cooperation and was briefed on BEL’s technology capabilities and advanced products.
The Bengaluru engagement formed part of a wider India visit by Japanese lawmakers that included interactions with key Indian institutions.
Taro Kono Leads Japanese Parliamentary Delegation to BEL
The delegation was led by Taro Kono, who has previously served as Japan’s Foreign Minister and Defence Minister. The visit to BEL provided the Japanese parliamentarians an opportunity to understand India’s indigenous defence-electronics and technology capabilities.
The delegation was received at the BEL Bengaluru Complex by:
- Rajnish Sharma, Director, BEL Bengaluru Complex
- Giriraja N., Executive Director, BEL
- Other senior officials from BEL
During the interaction, BEL officials briefed the visiting dignitaries on the company’s technology capabilities and state-of-the-art products.
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Delegation Discusses Cooperation Opportunities With BEL
The Japanese delegation and BEL officials discussed opportunities for cooperation during the visit.
The engagement comes at a time when India and Japan are expanding cooperation across defence, technology, research and strategic sectors. In August 2026, the Japanese and Indian Defence Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to further deepen bilateral defence cooperation and signed a Memorandum of Arrangement on maritime security cooperation.
The two countries have also agreed to strengthen cooperation across operational, equipment, technology and industrial domains through a dedicated working group.
Against this broader backdrop, the BEL visit provided an opportunity for the Japanese lawmakers to engage directly with an Indian public-sector organisation involved in advanced defence electronics and strategic technologies.
BEL Bengaluru Complex Showcases Indigenous Technology Capabilities
The BEL Bengaluru Complex is an important centre for the company’s technology and manufacturing activities. The complex is associated with multiple areas of advanced electronics and strategic technology.
BEL’s broader portfolio includes capabilities in areas such as:
- Military communication systems
- Radar and surveillance technologies
- Electronic warfare systems
- Avionics
- Naval electronics
- Missile-related systems
- Network and cyber security
- Unmanned systems
- Strategic communication technologies
During the September 19 visit, the Japanese delegation was briefed on BEL’s state-of-the-art products and technological capabilities.
The visit therefore provided an opportunity to showcase India’s growing capabilities in indigenous electronics, system development and strategic technology.
Visit Takes Place Amid Expanding India-Japan Defence Cooperation
The BEL visit comes against the backdrop of increasing India-Japan engagement in defence and technology.
At the Japan-India Defence Ministers’ Meeting on August 20, 2026, Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi and Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh discussed measures to deepen bilateral defence cooperation. The two sides agreed to establish a working group covering operational, intelligence, equipment, technology and industrial cooperation.
The two countries also signed an arrangement on maritime security cooperation, covering areas including maritime domain awareness, search and rescue, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
The Japanese Defence Ministry said the two sides also discussed cooperation in defence equipment and technology and further development of industrial cooperation.
BEL Visit Highlights Growing Technology Engagement
The September 19 engagement at BEL Bengaluru adds a technology and industrial dimension to the broader India-Japan relationship.
For the visiting parliamentarians, the interaction provided an opportunity to gain a closer understanding of India’s indigenous capabilities in advanced electronics and strategic technologies.
For BEL, the engagement created a platform to present its technological capabilities and discuss potential areas of cooperation with Japanese stakeholders.
The visit also reflects the increasing importance of direct institutional engagement between India and Japan as both countries explore cooperation across defence, technology, research, space and advanced manufacturing.
About Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL)
Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) is a Navratna Defence PSU under the Ministry of Defence, Government of India. Established in 1954, the company designs, develops and manufactures electronic systems and solutions for defence and strategic applications. BEL has a wide technology portfolio covering areas such as radars, communication systems, electronic warfare, avionics, naval systems, cyber security and other advanced electronics.
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