India-France Defence Relations
This year 2023, India and France are celebrating 25 years of their strategic partnership.
France has emerged as a key defence partner for India, becoming the second largest defence supplier in 2017- 2021.
Induction of the French Scorpene conventional submarines, being built in India under technology transfer agreement of 2005.
India has procured 36 Rafale jets from France for its Air Force under a mega Rs 59,000 crore deal that was inked in September 2016.
The Tata group has also tied up with Airbus to manufacture C-295 tactical transport aircraft in Vadodara, Gujarat.
Military Dialogues and Regularly held Joint Exercises:
Varuna (navy), Garuda (air force), and Shakti (army).
Recent defence cooperation
Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) accorded approval for the procurement of 26 Rafale-M fighters from France.
The DAC granted the acceptance of necessity [AoN] for procurement of three additional Scorpenes under the Buy (Indian) category. The submarines will be constructed by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders.
The two countries announced that they will extend their defence cooperation in advanced aeronautical technologies.
By supporting the joint development of a combat aircraft engine and also an engine for the Indian multi-role helicopter (IMRH) being designed and developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.
They also support industrial cooperation for motorization of heavy-lift helicopters under the Indian Multi Role Helicopter (IMRH) programme with Safran Helicopter Engine, France.
To enable progress on the IMRH programme, a Shareholders’ Agreement between HAL, India and Safran Helicopter Engine, France has been concluded for engine development.
A contract being concluded between Safran Helicopter Engine and HAL for the “Transfer of Technology of Forging and Castings” for the Shakti Engine which powers HAL built helicopters.
MoU between Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd. (GRSE), and Naval Group France, a leader in European Naval Defence Industry to collaborate in the field of surface ship that caters to fulfil the requirement of India and International Naval forces.
India is setting up a Technical Office of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) at its Embassy in Paris.
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