The BRICS partners have agreed to share information on Scorpne submarines and other vessels

India and Brazil have signed a pact for collaboration on the maintenance of Scorpne submarines and other vessels, the Indian Navy said on Monday.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) also aims to boost defense research and development (R&D) collaboration and drive technological innovation in sustaining various naval platforms.

"The MOU will enhance life-cycle support, enable experience sharing in maintenance, logistics and training, and strengthen cooperation between government agencies and industry of both nations," the Indian Navy said in a statement.

The MOU was signed between the Indian Navy, Brazilian Navy, and Mazagon Dockyard Ltd. India's Naval Chief Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi is on an official visit to the South American nation until Friday.

Tripathi is expected to hold talks with Brazil's Defense Minister Jose Mucio, Admiral Renato Rodrigues de Aguiar Freire, Chief of the Joint Staff of the Brazilian Armed Forces, and Admiral Marcos Sampaio Olsen, the Commander of the Brazilian Navy.

The BRICS partners have been working on strengthening defense ties recently.

Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh held a meeting with Brazilian Vice President Geraldo Alckmin and Mucio in New Delhi in October.

In July, the eighth Joint Defense Committee meeting in Brasilia examined co-production opportunities, military training exchanges, and regional security cooperation.

India has set a target of expanding its naval fleet to over 200 warships and submarines by 2035, with the possibility of reaching 230 by 2037. New Delhi has encouraged defense firms from friendly countries to partner with Indian arms manufacturers to bolster the 'Make in India' initiative.