Key facts
- India and France are set to deepen defense cooperation, with a focus on undersea capabilities.
- Discussions will include expediting the procurement of three additional Scorpene submarines for the Indian Navy.
- France is also looking to advance the Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) project with significant indigenous manufacturing in India.
- The visit aims to overcome delays in finalizing key defense deals and enhance joint military projects.
- Maritime contestation in regions like the Gulf of Oman underscores the urgency for India to bolster its underwater fleet.
India and France are poised to deepen their defense cooperation, with a particular focus on enhancing underwater combat capabilities, during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to France. The move comes amid increasing maritime contestation in key zones, including the Gulf of Oman, which has highlighted the Indian Navy's need to expand its submarine fleet.
Discussions are expected to expedite negotiations for the procurement of three additional Scorpene submarines, which will be jointly constructed by India's Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL) and French defense major Naval Group. This deal, valued at approximately Rs 36,000 crore, has faced delays over technical and commercial aspects for over two years. The Indian Navy is currently operating six Scorpene submarines built under Project 75 and is also in the process of acquiring six stealth submarines from German firm ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS).
France is also keen to move forward with the Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) project, aiming for significant indigenous manufacturing in India. Under this project, 18 Rafale jets will be supplied in a fly-away condition, with the remaining to be manufactured in India with around 50% local content.
Ministry of External Affairs official Piyush Srivastava stated that defense cooperation, including co-production, technology transfer, and co-development, will be a key agenda item. He emphasized France's role as a trusted defense partner and indicated that all proposals would be discussed, though he declined to detail specific projects.
The increasing naval presence of China in the Indian Ocean and its growing submarine deployments have further intensified India's urgency to accelerate submarine induction and enhance its underwater capabilities. Modi's visit is anticipated to provide the necessary political impetus to advance these critical defense modernization plans.