India and Australia are set to deepen their defence ties with a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) focused on the development of military hardware. This initiative was announced after the second India-Australia Defence Ministers' Dialogue, where Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh met with Australian Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles. The dialogue reviewed progress since their inaugural meeting in October 2025 and discussed ways to strengthen their strategic partnership. Key outcomes include advancements in maritime security cooperation and the finalization of the Joint Maritime Security Collaboration Roadmap, which aims to enhance maritime domain awareness. Both ministers also reiterated their commitment to maintaining a free and stable Indo-Pacific region, emphasizing the importance of freedom of navigation and adherence to international law. Additionally, they plan to conduct a Search and Rescue exercise in Chennai in June 2026 and explore future collaborations in defence science and technology, particularly in sensor technologies.