CHENNAI: As many as 40 MoUs were signed at the recently held DefExpo 2018, including 25 agreements sealed with foreign countries.

The four-day expo saw Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the military research and development arm under the defence ministry, transferring 10 critical technologies including heavy weight torpedo Varunastra and Astra air-to-air missiles to private and PSUs for manufacturing.

In an outcome report, the ministry said defence PSUs like Bharat Electronics, Mazagon Docks and Goa Shipyard alone had signed 16 MoUs including 11 with foreign countries like Ukraine, Israel, the US, Bhutan, Germany and France.

The deals with foreign countries are for creating a new tank for Indian defence ministry, exploring warship export opportunities, design and indigenously build tourist submarine and for manufacturing super hornet multi-role fighter aircraft among others.

Among MoUs signed with Indian companies and institutions include a deal with IIT-Madras by Mazagon Docks to indigenously develop advanced unmanned vehicles.

Seven deals were sealed by Indian private companies with foreign manufacturers for jointly developing various platforms and services for the Indian defence forces. It includes development of a UAV system that can be launched and recovered from Indian warships.