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Last updated: July 15, 2023 at 00:49 AM IST
As many as 26 Rafale aircraft have been purchased by India from France under an intergovernmental framework. (image: PTI file)
India and France have announced groundbreaking defense cooperation projects, including joint development of engines and submarines
India and France on Friday announced a host of “groundbreaking” defense cooperation projects, including the joint development of aircraft engines and helicopters and the construction of three Scorpene-class submarines for the Indian Navy, following talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel. Macron.
The two strategic partners also expressed their commitment to cooperate in joint development and joint production of advanced defense technologies, including for the benefit of third countries, a decision seen as a reflection of the growing bilateral defense ties.
There has been no information on India’s long-awaited purchase of 26 Rafale fighter jets from France. However, a document including a 25-year roadmap for strengthening strategic ties mentioned the “just-in-time delivery” of the 36 Rafale jets, which India bought from France for the Indian Air Force.
She added that the two sides welcome the agreement signed between the Indian company Mazgon Dockyard Ltd and the French Naval Group to build three additional submarines under the P-75 programme. Entitled “Horizon 2047: 25th Anniversary of India-France Strategic Partnership, Towards a Century of India-France Relations,” the document said both sides are ready to explore more ambitious projects for the development and performance of India’s submarine fleet.
“In line with their distinguished cooperation in military aviation spanning over five decades, India and France welcome the timely handover of the Rafale-36 ordered by India,” she said. “In the future, India and France will expand their pioneering defense cooperation in advanced aviation technologies by supporting the joint development of a fighter jet engine,” she added.
A roadmap for this project will be prepared between Safran and the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) before the end of this year. They also announced support for industrial cooperation to operate heavy helicopters under the Indian Multi-Role Helicopter (IMRH) program with the Safran Helicopter Engine.
“To enable progress of the IMRH programme, a shareholder agreement has been entered into between Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) of India and Safran Helicopter Engine, France for engine development,” the document said. She said these projects are in line with the spirit of trust that prevails between India and France in sharing and joint development of critical components and technology building blocks, based on the successful Indo-French experience in technology transfer.
It stated that other examples of a defense industrial partnership included the contract between Safran Helicopter Engine and HAL to transfer “forging and castings” technology for the Shakti engine. She added, “This also reflects the French commitment to supporting technology transfer and manufacturing in India. Another example is the Memorandum of Understanding between Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd and Naval Group France for cooperation in the field of surface ships that meet the requirements of India and international navies.”
“To this end, the two countries are also working on adopting a roadmap for defense industrial cooperation,” she said. In view of the uptick in defense industrial cooperation between the two countries, India is setting up a Technical Office for DRDO at the Indian Embassy in Paris.
(This story was not edited by the News18 staff and was published from a syndicated news agency feed – PTI)
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