Bavarian Vice Minister Visits Hical Technologies to Boost India–Germany Defence and Aerospace Partnership
By R Anil Kumar
Bengaluru, July 11, 2026. Hical Technologies, a Bengaluru-based precision electromechanical manufacturing company serving global aerospace and defence platforms, hosted Mr. Tobias Gotthardt, Vice Minister at the Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy, at its Electronic City facility on July 11.
The visit focused on exploring opportunities for stronger collaboration between India and Bavaria in the aerospace and defence sectors, with discussions centred around advanced manufacturing, innovation, technology capabilities, and strengthening industrial partnerships.
India’s aerospace and defence industry has been witnessing significant growth, with defence exports touching a record ₹38,424 crore in FY26. Against this backdrop, the visit provided Hical an opportunity to showcase its expertise in high-precision manufacturing, engineering capabilities, and its role in supporting next-generation aerospace and defence programmes.
The visit comes after Hical Managing Director YashasJaiveer participated in the India–Germany Defence Industry Roundtable held in Munich in April 2026. Hical was among the select Indian aerospace and defence companies that engaged with German industry leaders and government representatives during the roundtable.
During his visit to Hical’s facility, Mr. Gotthardt toured the company’s manufacturing units, design centre, and research facilities, gaining insights into Hical’s production capabilities, engineering processes, and innovation-driven approach in the aerospace and defence domains.
Speaking during the visit, Mr. Tobias Gotthardt said that Bavaria and India share a strong partnership based on trust, innovation, and cooperation. He highlighted the growing importance of aerospace, space, and defence sectors and expressed confidence that deeper collaboration between Bavarian and Indian industries could help build resilient supply chains and create new opportunities for both regions.
YashasJaiveer, Managing Director, Hical Technologies, said the visit marked an important milestone in strengthening India–Germany industrial ties.
“Welcoming the Hon’ble Vice Minister to our facility is a matter of great pride for Hical and India’s aerospace manufacturing ecosystem. The discussions initiated during the India–Germany Defence Industry Roundtable in Munich have now translated into meaningful engagement at our manufacturing facility. We believe global aerospace partnerships are built on quality, reliability, compliance, and trust. Hical remains committed to becoming a dependable partner for leading aerospace and defence companies across the world,” he said.
The visit further underlines the growing potential for cooperation between India and Germany in advanced manufacturing and aerospace technologies, while highlighting Bengaluru’s emerging role as a global hub for precision engineering and defence innovation.
Bavaria, the Powerhouse of Germany’s Defence Industry
Bavaria is the premier powerhouse of Germany’s security and defence industry, generating roughly one-third of the nation’s total defence output. Centered heavily in and around Munich, the state supports an estimated €9.5 billion in annual value-added across aerospace, deep-tech, and land systems.
Key Industry Giants
Bavaria’s defence ecosystem comprises both legacy conglomerates and cutting-edge deep-tech startups:
Airbus Defence and Space: Headquartered in Ottobrunn (near Munich), it is a central player in major European projects like the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) fighter jet program.
Diehl Defence: Operating out of Überlingen/Röthenbach, a primary supplier of advanced air defence systems (such as the IRIS-T SLM).
KNDS Deutschland: Formed from the merger of Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (based in Munich) and Nexter, they are the manufacturers of the Leopard 2 main battle tank and other crucial armoured vehicles.
MBDA Deutschland: Located in Schrobenhausen, this joint venture is a major European developer of missile systems (including the Meteor and Patriot systems).
Hensoldt&Helsing: Key innovators in defence electronics, sensors, and artificial intelligence for military software applications.
Innovation and Startup Hub
Bavaria has recently surpassed Berlin as Germany’s top startup funding destination. The region has seen an explosion in venture capital flowing into dual-use and defence tech startups—drawing more than €1 billion in recent years. Accelerators like the PalladionDefense Accelerator and institutional backing from institutions like the Technical University of Munich (TUM) foster rapid prototyping in fields such as vertical mobility, autonomous robotics, and aerospace tech.
International Cooperation
Bavaria aggressively pushes for localized and global partnerships to build resilient supply chains, co-develop next-generation defence technologies, and secure major procurement contracts—such as the recent selection of the state as a deployment site for the Israeli-German Arrow 3 missile defence system.
India-Bavaria Relations
India and the German state of Bavaria maintain robust economic, academic, and strategic ties. Bilateral trade between Bavaria and India stands at approximately €4.4 billion, supported by over 300 Indian companies operating in Bavaria and 400 Bavarian firms—such as Siemens, BMW, and Audi—present in India.
The multifaceted relationship between the two regions spans several key areas:
Strategic Tech & Innovation Partnerships: Bavaria and Indian states have actively collaborated on technology and deep-tech innovation. Notably, Bavaria and Karnataka share a regional partnership dating back to 2007, and the Bavarian government signed MoUs with Karnataka (renewed for five years) and Telangana to collaborate heavily on artificial intelligence, quantum computing, cybersecurity, and biotechnology.
Business Facilitation: The Bavarian government actively promotes bilateral investment through the State of Bavaria India Office, which first opened in Bengaluru in 2001 to assist Indian companies in setting up operations in Bavaria.
Academic & Scientific Cooperation: The Bavarian-Indian Centre for Business and University Cooperation (BayIND) coordinates student and researcher exchanges between the two regions. Additionally, elite German institutions like the Fraunhofer Society operate research centres in cities like Bengaluru.
Community & Connectivity: Bavaria is home to over 30,000 Indian citizens, with large populations centered around Munich. Connectivity is streamlined by daily direct flights operated by Lufthansa from Munich to major Indian Cities.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s Recent visit to Germany
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visited Germany from April 21 to 23, 2026, to elevate strategic and defence ties. The trip focused on finalizing the massive Rs 90,000 crore Project 75I submarine deal and signing a Defence Industrial Cooperation Roadmap to boost co-development and co-production.
Key Highlights of the Visit
Bilateral Talks: Singh held key meetings with his German counterpart, Boris Pistorius, focusing on expanding military-to-military engagements and exploring cooperation in emerging domains like artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and drones.
Submarine Negotiations: A major agenda item was the Project 75I submarine project involving the German defence major Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS). Singh also visited a German submarine-building facility to inspect advanced naval capabilities.
Agreements Signed: The visit resulted in the signing of a Defence Industrial Cooperation Roadmap and an Implementing Arrangement for Cooperation in UN Peacekeeping Operations Training.
About Hical Technologies
Hical TechnologiesEstablished in 1988, is a leading Bengaluru-based manufacturer of critical electromechanical systems, supplying motors, solenoids, actuators, and transformers to global aerospace and defence corporations. They are heavily export-driven, catering to international OEMs and Tier-1 suppliers, and serve as key Indian Offset Partners for global aerospace contracts.
Key details about the company’s scope, operations, and infrastructure:
Capabilities & Product Portfolio
Electromagnetics: High-reliability custom magnetics, sensors, transformers, and electrical assemblies.
Advanced Integration: Cable harnesses, PCB assemblies (PCBA), thermoplastic moulding, and box-build mechanical integration.
Engineering Services: Integrated design services, spanning mechanical, embedded software, electronic, and test engineering.
Facilities & Infrastructure
Headquarters: Located in Electronics City, Bengaluru.
Manufacturing Hubs: Operate multiple production sites, including a 160,000 sq ft facility under development in Hosur (approx. 40 minutes from the Bengaluru headquarters). The Hosur campus focuses on aerospace-qualified precision machining, fabrication, and special processes to bolster their global supply chain.
